Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest category

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The second episode of the MLE podcast, Men in Boaters, was released today and mentioned the expected entrants of Saturday's Nathan's qualifiers. Pablo Martinez and Rene Rovtar are expected to compete in Fort Myers, FL while Juan Neave, Nate Biller, Crazy Legs Conti, Steve Schuster and Kassie Zapata headline the Poteet, TX field.

April 12, 2018 at 5:42 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Contest Previews, Fort Myers, Podcasts, San Antonio | Permalink * Comments (1)

2018 Miami Marlins Nathan’s qualifier

March 31, 2018 at 7:00 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Contest Results, Eric "Badlands" Booker, Miami

Full official results

1st 21.5 Eric “Badlands” Booker qualifies for 20th time
2nd 13.5 Victor Aldrich
3rd 9.5 Ryan Hadley
4th 7 Jason Ruppert
5th 6 Richard Rusak
1st 7.5 Tracie Dickerson won in OT
2nd 7.5 Rene Rovtar lost in OT, 1st contest since being named FBTS 2017 Rookie of the Year
3rd 4 Brittany Broder

The winners have been posted from today’s Nathan’s qualifier at Marlins Park in Miami

1) Eric “Badlands” Booker 21.5

1W) Tracie Dickerson 7.5 (won in OT)

Comments (16)

An official MLE podcast, Men in Boaters, has been started with Rich Shea and Crazy Legs Conti as co-hosts. They call Sam Barclay, the emcee of tomorrow's Nathan's qualifier in Miami, who says that Rene Rovtar will have a female competitor from Winter Park, FL. Eric "Badland" Booker and George Shea also did podcasts earlier this week about the qualifier for Miami.CBSlocal.com.

March 30, 2018 at 8:47 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Crazy Legs Conti, Eric "Badlands" Booker, Miami, Podcasts | Permalink * Comments (11)

The Fink Beats the Stomach has an interview with the winners of the Nathan's qualifier in Nashville in October 2017, Brynn Szeles and Ronnie Hartman, who has moved to Buffalo to pursue a professional wrestling career. Brynn has been a competitive eating fan for over a decade, but could not compete in a qualifier due to living in Hungary.

March 25, 2018 at 10:20 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Nashville, Podcasts, Ronnie Hartman | Permalink * Comments (5)

Eric "Badlands" Booker announces that he will compete in the Nathan's qualifier at the Marlins ballpark on Saturday. Unlike last year's qualifier in Miami, the competition will be held outside the stadium before the game, so there might be the possibility for walk-on entrants which could avoid an all-male field like the 2017 qualifier had.

March 25, 2018 at 10:09 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Eric "Badlands" Booker, Miami | Permalink * Comments (5)

Erik Denmark and Sarah Reinecke discuss their victories in the Nathan's qualifier at the Bite of Oregon in Portland in the latest Fink Beats the Stomach podcast.

March 12, 2018 at 8:16 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Erik Denmark, Podcasts, Portland, Sarah Reinecke | Permalink * Comments (3)

2018 Nathan’s qualifier schedule

February 20, 2018 at 10:19 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Cincinnati, New York City, San Antonio

Update: The schedule has been posted and registration is open for all qualifiers on http://www.majorleagueeating.com/contests.php
Notable omissions include all NASCAR qualifiers and the NYNY Casino in Las Vegas which has held a qualifier every year since at least 2003. The Mets ballpark takes over as the longest running qualifier site.

MLE announces that the 2018 Nathan’s qualifier schedule will be released at 2pm Eastern today.

The Cincinnati Reds May 18 and the New York Mets June 24 are probable sites since Nathan’s Famous is listed as a sponsor for those game dates.

A qualifier will not be held at the San Antonio Big League Weekend next month since that event will not take place in 2018 due to the NCAA Final Four being held at the Alamo Dome.

Comments (12)

George Shea appears in an advertisement for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway, so the Fort Worth racetrack might be the site of a Nathan's qualifier on April 7 or 8.

February 10, 2018 at 10:21 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Dallas | Permalink * Comments (4)

The Preakness Balloon Festival will hold a Nathan's hot dog qualifier in West Friendship, MD (Baltimore area). I think this is the first Nathan's qualifier in Maryland.

February 9, 2018 at 2:42 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Baltimore | Permalink * Comments (2)

David Kilimnick has a column for AISH.com titled "Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest: The Legend of a Jewish Athlete" about competing in the 2003 Los Angeles Nathan's qualfier against Ray "The Bison" Meduna. (Qualifier winner Boyd Bulot is not mentioned.)

November 26, 2017 at 10:48 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:2003 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Los Angeles | Permalink * Comments (5)

The first Nathan's qualifier of 2018 has been announced: April 14 in Fort Myers, FL. Registration will open February 1.

November 22, 2017 at 7:25 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Fort Myers | Permalink * Comments (14)

In his latest column for CultureMap, Ken Hoffman (who has served as a judge at the Nathan's Finals) has an interview with Joey Chestnut about the difficulty of obtaining restaurant-style Nathan's Famous hot dogs for training sessions. The sausages sold in supermarkets typically lack the "natural casing" consisting of segments of small instestines from sheep.

November 17, 2017 at 9:46 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Joey Chestnut, Nathan's Hot Dog Contest | Permalink * Comments (3)

Ed Krachie, the 1995 & 1996 Nathan's hot dog eating champion, has a twitter at @edkrachie.

October 13, 2017 at 6:15 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Nathan's History, Websites | Permalink * Comments (5)

2018 Nathan’s feld as of Oct 12, 2017

October 12, 2017 at 7:29 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest

Here is the current list of people who have won a spot in the 2018 Nathan’s finals via a qualifier. Presumably Joey Chestnut, Matt Stonie, Miki Sudo and Sonya Thomas will also receive byes.

2017 Aug 12 1st 28.5 10 min Juan “more bite” Rodriguez Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Des Moines, IA
2017 Sep 4 1st 28 10 min Erik “The Red” Denmark Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Portland, OR
2017 Oct 10 1st 28.75 10 min Ronnie “MegaByte” Hartman Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Nashville, TN
2017 Aug 12 1st 19 10 min Sophia Devita Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Des Moines, IA
2017 Sep 4 1st 17 10 min Sarah “Unstoppable Bab” Reinecke Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Portland, OR
2017 Oct 10 1st 8.75 10 min Brynn Szeles Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Nashville, TN

As in 2016-17, there will probably not be a wild card. Here are the wild card leaders in case that is restored.

2017 Oct 10 2nd 23 10 min “Big Eater Mike” Michael Whities Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Nashville, TN
2017 Sep 4 2nd 20 10 min Ryan “Max Carnage” Rodacker Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Portland, OR
2017 Oct 10 3rd 19 10 min Brian “Dud Light” Dudzinski Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Nashville, TN
2017 Oct 10 2nd 8.5 10 min Rene Rovtar Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Nashville, TN
2017 Sep 4 2nd 6.75 10 min Laurie “Ms Robinson” Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Portland, OR

Comments (15)

2017 Nashville Nathan’s qualifier

October 10, 2017 at 3:59 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Contest Results, Nashville, Ronnie Hartman

Official results men | women

1 Ronnie Hartman 28.75
2 Michael “Big Eater Mike” whities 23
3 Brian Dudzinski 19

1W Bryn Szeles 8.75
2W Rene Rovtar 8.5

Facebook Live video from NewsChannel 5

Fox Nashville has a live stream of the contest.

Brian Dudzinski, Ronnie Hartman, Michael “Big Eater Mike” Whities and Rene Rovtar are expected to compete.

Comments (21)

2017 Nathan’s Portland qualifier

September 4, 2017 at 4:34 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Contest Results, Erik Denmark, Portland, Sarah Reinecke

update Sept 5 BrewPublic videos Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
BrewPublic article & gallery
Sarah Reinecke instagram video

Results Part 1 | Part 2
1) Erik Denmark 28
2) Ryan “Max Carnage” Rodacker 20
3) John “Step Daddy J” Jugovic 17
4) Jason Erb 9.5
5) Tim Kruse 8.5
6) Lyle Mack 6

1W) Sarah Reinecke 17
2W) Ms Robinson 6.75

The Nathan’s qualifier at Bite of Oregon in Portland is underway. Someone ate 14 hot dogs in the first 3.5 minutes.

Comments (10)

2017 Iowa State Fair Nathan’s qualifier

August 12, 2017 at 1:33 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Des Moines, Juan Rodriguez, Matt Hazzard, Sophia DeVita

update Aug 17 Iowa Public Television has a video

Jesus Gonzalez video

Juan Rodriguez and Sophia DeVita are the favorites. Juan appeared on WeAreIowa yesterday.

Facebook Live video

Full Results Part 1 | Part 2

1st 28.5 Juan “more bite” Rodriguez
2nd 19 Jake Thompson
3rd 18 Matt “Hungry” Hazzard
4th 16.5 Mark “the muncher” Williams
5th 15.75 Matthew Raible
6th 9 Zach Adams
6th 9 Kameron Gray
6th 9 Andrew Kilborn
9th 6 Chris Branch

1W) Sophia DeVita 19 personal best (sole female)

Comments (10)

Marie Claire magazine has a twitter video about Miki Sudo's preparations for the Nathan's finals.

July 25, 2017 at 7:20 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:2017 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Miki Sudo | Permalink * Comments (7)

In the Harley Quinn issue to be released tomorrow, she will attend "NateMan's" hot dog eating contest. (Margot Robbie, who played Harley Quinn in the movie, ate 4 pounds of spaghetti to win an on-set eating contest.)

July 18, 2017 at 8:27 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:Comics, Nathan's Hot Dog Contest | Permalink * Comments (3)

Registration is open for the first two qualifiers of the Nathan's 2017-18 circuit: Des Moines on August 12 and Portland, OR on September 4. The Portland qualifier will be the first northwestern site on the Nathan's circuit since at least 2004.

July 6, 2017 at 11:28 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:2018 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Des Moines, Portland | Permalink * Comments (9)

2017 Nathan’s mens finals

July 4, 2017 at 12:44 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2017 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Contest Results, Joey Chestnut, New York City


1st 72 Joey “Jaws” Chestnut record for finals or qualifier
2nd 60 Carmen Cincotti personal best, 4th person to hit 60
3rd 48 Matt “Megatoad” Stonie
4th 44.5 Geoffrey Esper
5th 38.5 Darron Breeden probably 2018 rookie of the year
6th 36 Gideon Oji
7th 34 Adrian “The Rabbit” Morgan
8th 33 Juan “more bite” Rodriguez
8th 33 Yasir Salem
10th 29 Rich “The Locust” LeFevre
11th 25 Erik “The Red” Denmark
12th 23 Pablo Martinez
13th 22.5 Steve Hendry
14th 22 Eric “Badlands” Booker
14th 22 Josh Miller
14th 22 “Buffalo” Jim Reeves
17th 20.5 Derek Jacobs
18th 20 Brian “Dud Light” Dudzinski
18th 20 Juan “Hungry Saiyan” Neave
20th 16 Matt “Sweet Tooth” Cohen
21st 14.5 Pedram “In Jaws We Trust” Esmaeelzadeh

ESPN3 has a camera focused on Joey Chestnut.

Comments (54)

2017 Women’s Nathan’s Finals

July 4, 2017 at 11:11 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:"Cardboard Shell", 2017 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Contest Results, Miki Sudo, Women

Full results: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Meghan Drake did not compete. Daniella Gioia’s total was not given

1st 41 Miki Sudo personal best
2nd 32 Michelle “Cardboard Shell” Lesco personal best, non-Asian women’s record (Schuler 31)
3rd 30 Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas
4th 25 “The Lovely” Juliet Lee
5th 18 Sophia Devita
6th 17 Meredith Boxberger
7th 15 Sarah “Unstoppable Bab” Reinecke
8th 14 Larell Marie “The Real Deal” Mele
9th 13 Kassandra Zapata
10th 12 Carlene LeFevre
11th ? Daniella Gioia
12th 8 Mary “I Love ’em HOT!” Bowers
12th 8 Liz McClurg
12th 8 Rene Rovtar
12th 8 Marlene Wigginton
16th 7.75 Stevie “Eats a Lot” Palmer
17th 6 Deborah Bethea
17th 6 Danielle Leppert-Simenauer

ESPN could have truncated Sportscenter to televise the women’s contest or put it on in place of a rerun of the 2016 men’s contest on ESPN Classic.

Comments (42)

2016-17 Nathan’s qualifier winners

July 2, 2017 at 7:09 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:2017 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest

Here is a list of all qualifier winners from the 2016-17 Nathan’s circuit.

2016 Oct 11 1st 27.5 10 min Brian “Dud Light” Dudzinski Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Nashville, TN
2017 Mar 18 1st 22.5 10 min Juan “Hungry Saiyan” Neave Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating qualifier – men San Antonio, TX
2017 Mar 25 1st 25.5 10 min Pablo Martinez Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating qualifier – men Estero, FL
2017 Apr 15 1st 33 10 min Adrian “The Rabbit” Morgan Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Miami, FL
2017 Apr 22 1st 30 10 min Rich “The Locust” LeFevre Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Las Vegas, NV
2017 Apr 22 1st 22 10 min Matt “Sweet Tooth” Cohen Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Louisville, KY
2017 Apr 28 1st 28 10 min Erik “The Red” Denmark Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men St. Louis, MO
2017 May 6 1st 18 10 min Pedram “In Jaws We Trust” Esmaeelzadeh Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Tampa, FL
2017 May 6 1st 26.5 10 min Josh Miller Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Fort Worth, TX
2017 May 13 1st 23 10 min “Buffalo” Jim Reeves Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Valdosta, GA
2017 May 19 1st 23 10 min Derek Jacobs Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Cincinnati, OH
2017 May 27 1st 7 10 min Rene Rovtar Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Charlotte, NC
2017 May 27 1st 24 10 min Eric “Badlands” Booker Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Charlotte, NC
2017 Jun 3 1st 30 10 min Steve Hendry Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Syracuse, NY
2017 Jun 11 1st 34.5 10 min Yasir Salem Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Long Pond, PA
2017 Jun 11 1st 38 10 min Darron Breeden Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Norfolk, VA
2017 Jun 18 1st 51 10 min Geoffrey Esper Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Boston, MA
2017 Jun 18 1st 53 10 min Carmen Cincotti Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Queens, NY
2017 Jun 24 1st 37 10 min Gideon Oji Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Washington, DC
2017 Jul 1 1st 30.5 10 min Juan “more bite” Rodriguez Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – men Naperville, IL
2016 Oct 11 1st 9.5 10 min Liz McClurg Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Nashville, TN
2017 Mar 18 1st 11 10 min Kassandra Zapata Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating qualifier – women San Antonio, TX
2017 Mar 25 1st 10 10 min Mary “I Love ’em HOT!” Bowers Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating qualifier – women Estero, FL
2017 Apr 22 1st 29 10 min Michelle “Cardboard Shell” Lesco Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Las Vegas, NV
2017 Apr 22 1st 10 10 min Stevie “Eats a Lot” Palmer Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Louisville, KY
2017 Apr 28 1st 16 10 min Sophia Devita Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women St. Louis, MO
2017 May 6 1st 12 10 min Carlene LeFevre Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Tampa, FL
2017 May 6 1st 15 10 min Sarah “Unstoppable Bab” Reinecke Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Fort Worth, TX
2017 May 13 1st 3 10 min Meghan Drake Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Valdosta, GA
2017 May 19 1st 15 10 min Meredith Boxberger Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Cincinnati, OH
2017 Jun 11 1st 13 10 min Larell Marie “The Real Deal” Mele Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Long Pond, PA
2017 Jun 11 1st 6.5 10 min Deborah Bethea Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Norfolk, VA
2017 Jun 18 1st 5 10 min Danielle Leppert-Simenauer Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Boston, MA
2017 Jun 18 1st 14.75 10 min Daniella Gioia Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Queens, NY
2017 Jun 24 1st 28 10 min “The Lovely” Juliet Lee Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Washington, DC
2017 Jul 1 1st 11 10 min Marlene Wigginton Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier – women Naperville, IL

Comments (19)

2017 Naperville, IL Ribfest Nathan’s qualifier

July 1, 2017 at 4:46 pm by ojrifkin · More posts about:2017 Nathan's Hot Dog Contest, Chicago, Contest Results, Juan Rodriguez, Marlene Wigginton

update The Chicago Daily Herald has a contest report that says two women competed.

Results

Full men’s results Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

1st 30.5 Juan “more bite” Rodriguez
2nd 16 Eric Vernsten
3rd 15 Cody Malanowski
4th 11.25 Phillip Yang
5th 9.5 Derek Sanderson
6th 9 Dave Luthman
6th 9 Nick Needs
6th 9 Paul “The Douche” Zwiercan

1W) Marlene Wigginton 11

The contest has started according to the festival twitter.

Comments (34)

Today is the 50th anniversary of a ceremony held at Nathan's Coney Island location on June 30, 1967 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the invention of the hot dog. At that event, Walter Paul reportedly ate 127 hot dogs. (A picture of an unnamed model at the centennial)

June 30, 2017 at 8:55 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Nathan's History, New York City | Permalink * Comments (22)

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