2014 Nathan’s St. Louis qualifier
update May 19 The Riverfront Times has a slideshow
update May 18 StlToday has an article giving the female winner’s last name was Wigginton
MLB.com has a video
update 1:13 Central George Shea has the top 3
1) Sean Gordon 27.5
2) Eric “Badlands” Booker 27
3) Kyle Hanner 20
Nic Zamora 16 former Missouri State hockey player
1W) Marlene Wiggenstein Wigginton 9.5
?) Rachel Steele 6
Advantage News has an article about Kyle Hanner competing in today’s qualifier at Busch Stadium. Rachel Steele is another local competing.
Fox2Now has an article
A Nathan's qualifier for retired and active military members at Fort Lee, VA on May 29 has been added to the circuit.
StLouis.CBSLocal.com has a podcast of an interview Joey Chestnut did with KMOX about attending Saturday's Nathan's qualifier in St. Louis.
Adrian Morgan, Jim Reeves, Damien Boykin and Ronnie Hartman are expected in the Savannah Nathan's qualifier on June 7.
Badlands Booker, Sean Gordon, Matt Raible and Josh Miller are listed as expected entrants in the Nathan's qualifier before Saturday's St. Louis Cardinal game (Kyle Hanner will also compete) Joey Chestnut will throw out the first pitch of the game.
Joey Chestnut and Neslie Ricasa are doing a fundraiser for Patriot PAWS in conjuction with their combined totals in the Nathan's finals on July 4 where they hope to exceed 90 hot dogs. (Neslie Ricasa has yet to qualify for Coney Island.)
2014 Nathan’s Houston qualifier
update May 8 The Memorial City facebook has a gallery
update May 7 Ken Hoffman has a contest report for the Houston Post and Click2Houston has a video
Update May 5 The Houston Chronicle has a gallery
update May 4 A contest video is available
update Erik Denmark reportedly won the men’s contest. Mary Bowers appears to be the sole female.
Official results men rest of top 5
1) Erik Denmark 36, reaches Coney for 9th year in a row
2) Juan Rodriguez 21 31, takes wild card lead
3) Nate Biller 21
4) Jimmy Chiu 18
5) Bam Martinez 13
women
1) Mary Bowers 11.75
Laura Heywood (6 hot dogs in Las Vegas) is now the women’s wild card leader
Today’s Nathan’s qualifier in Houston is abou to start. Erik Denmark, Nate Biller, Juan Rodriguez, Bam Martinez, Alex Perez and Mary Bowers are expected to compete.
Carlene LeFevre ends 9 year hiatus to win women’s Vegas qualifier, Pablo Martinez takes men’s
update April 27 VegasNews Vegas24Seven and HauteLiving have articles with galleries. The Las Vegas Sun has a gallery
El Toro has a video of the women’s qualifier
The winners have been announced
Men
1) Pablo Martinez 26
2) Rich LeFevre 25 – takes wild card lead (Nathan Biller 2nd w/18)
Women
1) Carlene LeFevre 13 – first MLE contest since 2005, qualifies for Coney for 4th time (1st as winner of female division)
2) Mary Bowers 9 – takes wild card lead
3) Laura Heywood 6 wore hot dog hat
The qualifier has started. Some reports say the contest has been held at the New York New York Hotel & Casino for 17 years, which would probably make it the second longest running event on the MLE calendar after the Nathan’s finals. (Rich Shea said it has been held for 10 years in his interview.)
ESPN 1100 has an interview with Rich Shea about tomorrow's Nathan's qualifier in Las Vegas. Pablo Martinez and Mary Bowers are the favorites; the only other competitors mentioned are locals John DeHaas & Mandy (Manny?) Griffin. Rich Shea says he expects Miki Sudo (who will not be at the qualifier) to easily defeat Sonya Thomas in the Nathan's finals if they compete. Several Nathan's prediction polls have been added to the sidebar. (via Steve Cofield)
Miki Sudo is not expected to defend her title at Saturday's Nathan's qualifier in Las Vegas. She is listed as an entrant in the Houston qualifier May 3. update April 22 The Houston Chronicle column does not appear to be accurate; it claims the qualifier is Saturday and not May 3 and the contest does not appear on Miki Sudo's calendar.
The Pocono Record has a preview of the June 7 Nathan's qualifier a Pocono Raceway focusing on Larell Marie Mele.
In a preview of the May 17 Nathan's qualifier in St. Louis, George Shea predicts that Miki Sudo will exceed 50 hot dogs somewhere on the 2014 Nathan's circuit.
The new poll asks what region you would most like to see added to the 2013-14Â Nathan's qualifier circuit.
2014 Nathan’s qualifier circuit announced
Update March 22 -Â The Chicago Business Journal has more on the deal. A new Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and website for Nathan’s are planned
Update March 21 – Registration is now open on the individual qualifier pages at ifoce.com
The 2014 Nathan’s qualifier schedule has been posted on ifoce.com. Registration for the Las Vegas qualifier will open tomorrow.
April 26th         Las Vegas, NV (New York, New York Hotel & Casino)
May 3rd           Houston, TX (Memorial Mall)
May 17th         St. Louis, MO (Busch Stadium)
May 24th         Charlotte, NC (Speed Street)
May 31st         Bloomingdale, IL (K Mart)
June 1st          St. Paul, MN (Dixie’s Stage, 695 Grand Avenue)
June 7th          Pocono, PA (Long Pond Speedway)
June 7th          Savannah, GA (East Bay Street & Drayton Street)
June 15th        Queens, NY (Citifield Plaza)
June 21st        Boston, MA (Government Center, Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party)
June 21st        East Rutherford, NJ (State Fair Meadowlands)
June 22nd       Sonoma, CA (Sonoma Raceway)
June 29th        Cleveland, OH (Crocker Park)
July 4th      Finals – Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
The Central time zone is much better represented than in previous year’s circuits with five qualifiers (counting December’s qualifier in Mississippi). Only 6 sites return from 2013 (Las Vegas, St. Paul, Savannah, Queens, Boston updated & E. Rutherford ), which might be a record.
A press release about Nathan’s Famous new partnership with John Morrell Food Group has information about the updated circuit. Three qualifiers will be held in conjunction with NASCAR events.
Wildcat Belts announces it has finished the champion belts for the next two Nathan's finals.
The Alliance for Coney Island Winter Gala will hold a charity auction offering a Nathan's finals judgeship on February 13. George Shea will function as MC for the event.
Val Bromann has a report on being the sole female participant in the Nathan's qualifier held earlier this month at Bally's in Tunica, MS.
Massive Wieners in Prahran, VIC, Australia (Melbourne area) reportedly wants to hold a hot dog eating contest in Januaray awarding the winner a trip to the 2014 Nathan's finals.
2013 Tunica, MS Nathan’s qualifier
update results
Men
1) Aaron Osthoff 27
2) Nate Biller 18, wild card leader
3) Ronnie Hartman 17
Women
1) Val Bromann 5.75
Aaron Osthoff, Ronnie Hartman and Nate Biller headline the males competing for a spot in the 2014 Nathan’s finals at Bally’s in Tunica, MS.
Val Bromann is the only female who has announced she will compete.
Ronnie Hartmann has a picture of a billboard promoting the contest.
Ronnie Hartman and Val Bromann will be competing in Saturday's kickoff of the 2013-14 Nathan's circuit in Tunica, MS.
Registration is now open for the first qualifier of the Nathan's 2014 circuit at Bally's Casino in Tunica, MS on December 14.
A charity auction is offering a chance to be an official judge in the 2014 Nathan's finals. The staring bid is $300. (via UALC)
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