The Wild Reason Joey Chesnut Can't Compete In This Year's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Champions rarely stay on top for long, but one notable exception is Joey Chestnut, who's gained notoriety as a warrior of weenies for winning Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest no less than 16 times. However, after winning the July 4th frank downing competition eight years in a row, it seems his streak may be coming to an end. The body that oversees professional eating contests – Major League Eating (MLE) — has decided not to have Chestnut back to the Coney Island event this year due to a partnership struck with an opposing dog brand.

Impossible Foods saw an opportunity to shake things up in the hot dog scene by partnering with Chestnut to promote its vegan weiner, and did so. MLE was unimpressed with the move to support a charlatan frankfurter (not that many folks know what's really in a hot dog), telling Foodie in a statement, "For nearly two decades we have worked under the same basic hot dog exclusivity provisions. However, it seems that Joey and his managers have prioritized a new partnership with a different brand over our long-time relationship." 

This action by Chestnut to break exclusivity with MLE and support a product that rivals the sponsor and founder of the event has put a bad taste in the mouth of a lot of fans and stakeholders. However, to a free agent like Chestnut, a professional-level sponsorship is a matter of dollars and cents, and Impossible Foods appears to have outbid Nathan's. 

Chestnut has long been stacking up awards for his sensational appetite, and holds 55 world records for consuming everything from Twinkies to hard boiled eggs (eat his dust Cool Hand Luke). Three years on, he still stands as world hot dog champion, having downed 76 dogs (unseasoned, unfortunately) in 10 minutes, back in 2021. And while he was paid $200,000 to appear in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest last year, and offered an additional $1.2 million for a four-year contract, a new sponsor changes the competitive eater's calculus. As yet, there is no word as to how much Impossible Foods is dishing out to have Chestnut represent the company, but judging by his willingness to accept what was bound to offend the longtime partner, it must be meaningful raise. 

While MLE respects the competitive eater and his decision, they have no interest in his participation given this new sponsorship. Their statement to Foodie further reads, "Joey Chestnut is an American hero. We would love nothing more than to have him at the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. We hope he returns when he is not representing a rival brand." There is some hope that the two sides can come to an agreement before July 4, but if not Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest will, this year, ensue without its Tom Brady.