Joey Chestnut Devours the Competition With Record 18th Nathan’s Hot Dog Title [WATCH]

Joey Chestnut once again proved his unbeatable dominance on the Fourth of July stage, claiming his 18th Mustard Belt at the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest after consuming 66 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes.

The men’s champion continued his reign at the Coney Island spectacle, further cementing his name as the face of competitive eating.

His performance drew cheers from a packed crowd celebrating both the national holiday and the contest’s long-running tradition.

Chestnut’s consistency and sheer power in the sport have made him the benchmark for competitive eaters everywhere.

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His latest victory ensures his unparalleled place in the event’s history books.

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On the women’s side, Miki Sudo once again refused to relinquish her Mustard Belt, taking home her 12th championship crown after downing 38.75 hot dogs.

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The Florida competitor showed no signs of slowing down, improving on her tally from the previous year.

“Today was not the day to lose, just to be honest,” Sudo told The Post following her win.

“You know, we’ve got the broadcast with America 250 on ABC. It is America 250, so there’s that added celebration, extra eyes on us. And the crowd really just pushed me through to 12th belt. I didn’t want to lose, especially with my family in the crowd.”

Last year, Sudo took first place with 33 hot dogs but trailed far behind her 2024 record of 51.

She admitted afterward that falling short of her personal best in 2025 made her feel she “let the fans down a little.”

This year, however, she came into the contest determined and focused, fueled by both national excitement and family support.

The win marked her continued dominance since joining the competition in 2014.

Sudo, 40, has only missed one Nathan’s contest, in 2021, when she was pregnant, which allowed Michelle Lesco to secure that year’s title by eating 30.75 hot dogs.

Lesco, a 43-year-old from Tucson, Arizona, returned strong this year but placed second with 22.

Lesco, who works as a senior manager of Youth Services at the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona, was greeted warmly by the crowd waving patriotic signs reading “Life, Liberty, and Dogs.”

In third place was Domenica Dee, a 34-year-old from Seattle and host of the TikTok show “Dee Street Eats.”

Dee matched her third-place finish from last year, also eating 22 hot dogs.

Among the spectators was Thomas Leible, a 19-year-old student from the Virginia Military Institute, who shared his longtime admiration for the contest.

He called Sudo “just as dominant as Joey Chestnut” after getting her autograph on his shirt.

The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest has long been a Fourth of July tradition and a major fixture in American pop culture, drawing competitors and fans from across the country.

Crowds packed into Coney Island early in the morning, celebrating both Independence Day and America’s milestone 250th anniversary during the ABC broadcast.

The energy of the crowd and the spirit of competition created a festive, all-American atmosphere.

Together, Chestnut and Sudo’s performances highlighted their unmatched status as champions of their respective divisions.

The pair continue to set the standard for the sport, showing once again that their drive and devotion to competitive eating remain as strong as ever.

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