Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Tomorrow, July 4th, marks the 91st annual Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest from Coney Island NY. The event will be broadcast live on ESPN starting at 12 noon EST. In 2006, over 30,000 spectators attended the event, and an additional 1.5 million households watched it live on ESPN.

The two heavy-weights going into the contest are the 6 time defending Coney Island Champion Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi (53 3/4 hot dogs last year) and the new World Record holder Joey "Jaws" Chestnut (59 1/2 hot dogs earlier this year). It should be quite the battle, assuming Kobayashi is able to compete, as he's been battling a jaw injury.

Last years Champ Takeru Kabayashi who ate 53 3/4 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes

The Rules:
During the event, the field of about 20 contestants stands on a raised platform behind a 30-foot-long table with drinks and Nathan's Famous hot dogs in buns. Most contestants drink water, but other kinds of drinks can and have been used. Condiments are allowed, but are usually not used. The hot dogs themselves are allowed to cool slightly after grilling to prevent possible mouth burns. Whomever consumes (and keeps down) the most hot dogs and buns ("HDBs") in twelve minutes is declared the winner. A designated scorekeeper is paired with each contestant who flips a number board counting the hot dogs consumed. Partially eaten hot dogs count and the granularity of measurement is eighths of a length. Hot dogs still in the mouth at the end of the 12 minutes count only if they are swallowed. There can be deductions in score for excess HDB debris. Both hands may be used. After the winner is declared, a plate with the number of hot dogs eaten by the winner is brought out.

Prizes:
For the first time this year, there is actual cold hard cash for the top 5 eaters:
1st: $10,000
2nd: $5,000
3rd: $2,500
4th: $1,500
5th: $1,000

2006 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Tuesday July 4, 2006
No.	Name	Hot Dogs
1	Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi (World Record)	53¾
2	Joey "Jaws" Chestnut (U.S. Record)	52
3	Sonya "Black Widow" Thomas (Women's Record)	37
4	Patrick Bertoletti	34¼
5	Tim "Eater X" Janus	34
6	Chip "The Phenom" Simpson	33
7	"Humble" Bob Shoudt	30
8	Rich "The Locust" LeFevre	28
9	Eric "Badlands" Booker	24
10	Patrick "from Moonachie" Philbin	23
11	Eric Denmark	22
12	Seaver Miller	22
13	Brian Subich	22
14	Crazy Legs Conti	21⅓
15	Allen Davis	20½
16	Robert Andersson	20
17	Hall Hunt	19
18	Kamil "The Camel" Hamersky	18
19	Kenji Oguni	16
20	Jed Donahue	1

A short highlight of Joey "Jaws" Chestnut breaking the World Record earlier this year