Annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Reigning Champs Crowned Winners Again In Coney Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Two reigning champions are celebrating their victories are winning the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island on Thursday.
It took 71 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes for 12-time winner Joey Chestnut to take home the trophy in the men's competition.
"This guy's the best fast food eater in the world," Brooklyn resident Danny Bowens told CBS2's Marc Liverman.
"I already knew he was going to win. I don't know how. I just already seen it coming," Walter Douglas, from East New York, said.
On the women's side, Miki Sudo dominated again, consuming 31 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
"She's amazing. I would never want to do that. The way she jumps up and down and gets them all down. I don't know," Ronda Flaska said.
"It's tough. It's tough. I'm lucky if I can finish three," New Jersey resident Bill Rusnak said.
PHOTOS: 2019 Annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
Watching professional eaters cram dog after dog into their mouths is as much a tradition as any on the Fourth of July.
Thousands of people came together to witness history again.
One of the most amazing parts of the contest is the crowd and the energy. People from all over the country and the world come just to take it all in.
"It gets you charged up. You go out, you go home, you propose to your wife, you propose to your girlfriend, you propose to your boys 'cause you love your boys, and you're jacked up on America and hot dogs," Queens resident Michael Pfeiffer said.
Sudo fell short of her feat last year, when she ate 37 hot dogs. Chestnut also failed to beat his world record of 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
Coney Island is the place to be this Fourth of July, with plenty for the entire family to enjoy.
Enjoy the games and iconic rides, take a stroll on the boardwalk or set up shop in the sand. There's no shortage of fun or sun.
"I have the summer off and I'm about to have a baby, so I just want to kick up my feet, relax and eat a lot of ice cream," beach goer Adashima Oyo said Wednesday.
The stage is set for the Nathan's hot dog eating contest in Coney Island! Happy 4th everyone! ????????☀️???? pic.twitter.com/pUfgeDcDfp
— Jenna DeAngelis (@jennamdeangelis) July 4, 2019
While some prefer the daytime fun, the Bello family visiting from Israel said they can't wait for the classic nighttime spectacular.
"We're definitely going to try and catch the fireworks, definitely," said Sharon Bello.
The fireworks are set to start around 9:30 p.m.