Even without its star on hand, the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Eating Contest on Thursday at New York’s Coney Island remained filled with gastrointestinal intrigue as Patrick Bertoletti tipped the scale in a close victory.

After 16 Nathan’s titles, Joey Chestnut was not on hand after he was banned from the competition because of his association with a plant-based food company: Impossible Foods.

Bertoletti ended up winning by the skin of his overworked teeth, eating 58 hot dogs in 10 minutes to 53 for Geoffrey Esper and 52 for James Webb. Bertoletti was competing for the ninth time.

The totals paled in comparison to the record 76 hot dogs and buns Chestnut ate in 2021.

In the women’s competition, defending champion Miki Sudo ate 51 hot dogs and buns to break the record in that competition. Mayoi Ebihara finished second with 37.

Chestnut still will have a July 4 presence when he competes against four Army soldiers in a five-minute “all beef” hot dog eating contest in El Paso, Texas. That event was available to watch on a YouTube livestream.

Chestnut is also scheduled to compete against six-time Nathan’s champion Takeru Kobayashi on Labor Day in a hot dog eating contest to relish that will be streamed live on Netflix. Chestnut and Kobayashi last competed against each other at the Nathan’s July 4 event in 2009 with Chestnut winning 68-64.5.

–Field Level Media