Joey Chestnut Wins Hot Dog Eating Contest for Eighth Consecutive Year!

Who was responsible for making Nathan's hot dog contest famous? How many hot dogs did he eat?

When Japan's Takeru Kobayashi devoured 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes, that it gained international fame. Though Kobayashi, who won the event for six consecutive years until he was dethroned by California rookie Joey Chestnut in 2007, is long gone, the contest which is now streamed live on the ESPN channel, has become a July 4th tradition - one that is watched by millions of people every year.

How many years has Joey Chestnut won the contest prior to this year? What significant event occurred before the contest began?

Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, who has dominated this competition for the last seven years. He ate 69 hot dogs and buns the 30-year-old had managed to devour in 2013. .Though he could not pinpoint the cause we have a feeling that it may have had something to do with the fact that his longtime girlfriend and competitive eater, Nesile Ricasa, had agreed to marry him on national television, just minutes before the competition.

What happened in the women's contest?

In the womans contest three-time defending women's champion Sonya 'Black Widow' Thomas did not fare anything. She was defeated by Miki Sudo from Las Vegas, who ate 34 frankfurters, far outpacing Sonya's 27 3/4

Critical Thinking Challenge:

What in your opinion makes food eating contests like these so popular (a) with contestants (b) with viewers?

( a ) Because they might want to be on tv or want to be seen. They might be looking at the people and how they do so they and can get better next year.

( b ) I wouldn't really like to go to one so I really don't know why they would like to see it. I would only go if it was for charity or to a good cause.