Undefeated Hot Dog Eating Champ Joey Chestnut Says What Fueled Him To Beat Longtime Rival
Joey Chestnut has been a fixture at Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest for nearly two decades now. That is, until he was banned from the annual Fourth of July competition earlier this year thanks to an endorsement deal with Impossible Foods. And while his future at the Coney Island event remains up in the air, one thing's for certain: it's only fueling his fire for a next title.
The legendary competitive eater is gearing up for the ultimate showdown: a live Netflix special against longtime rival Takeru Kobayashi. Chestnut will come face-to-face with his adversary for the first time in 15 years on September 2.
"He's the only one that pushes me this hard, and I think I'm the only one who pushes him," Chestnut told Delish. "I'm nervous and excited. I have been able to increase my numbers and my record over the years, but I haven't had a real fear in years of losing... none of the other eaters even think they can beat me."
Kobayashi—who Chestnut described as the "reason" he got into competitive eating in the first place—has the confidence other competitors have lacked.
"Retiring for me will only happen after I take him down one last time," Kobayashi said in the official announcement for the competition. "This rivalry has been brewing for a long time. Competing against Joey live on Netflix means fans all over the world can watch me knock him out."
Chestnut said it's only "more motivation" not to lose. "I don't want him to retire. I can't let him win and then never [get] a chance to beat him again," he says, before adding that he has nothing but "respect" for his challenger.
"Some of the things he's said about wanting to leave me 'bruised and battered,' I don't know if he likes me," Chestnut said with a laugh. "So I'm hoping I can give him a big sweaty hug afterwards."
While Joey Chestnut's current record stands at 76 hot dogs in just 10 minutes, his rivalry with Kobayashi—as well as the motivation from missing out on Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest this year—is only pushing him to shatter that number with a new accomplishment.
"I'm trying to make a new world record," he says. "The [Netflix special] is going to be the biggest eating contest in history and with the best eaters. And [after] missing the Fourth of July contest, [I'm using it] as fuel. It’s gonna make me more hungry."
The competitive eaters will reunite for on the contest stage for the first time 15 years for Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef takes the first bite. The eat-off will air live on Netflix on September 2 at 3 pm EST.
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