Here are some reasons why Joey Chestnut, Matt Stonie, Miki Sudo and Sonya Thomas might win tomorrow

Pro Joey Chestnut

• Has 8 Nathan’s totals (2 in 12 minute contests) better than Matt Stonie’s personal best of 56
• Managed to hit 60 hot dogs 2 years after first Nathan’s contest, something Matt Stonie has failed to do in 5
• Has managed to pull out of mid-season slumps by July 4 in previous years

Pro Matt Stonie

• Undefeated in 2015
• Has defeated Chestnut 2 of the last 3 times he has faced him by large margins (22.2 – 15.25 gyros, 120 – 85 Twinkies
• Joey Chestnut has lost 2 of his last 3 contests, including a defeat to Adrian Morgan for the first time in his career

Pro Miki Sudo

• Only woman to exceed 37 since 2012
• Sonya Thomas has not eaten more than 28 hot dogs since 2013
• Has won significantly more money than Sonya Thomas since July 5 ($14,950 vs. $2,400)

Pro Sonya Thomas

• Only woman to ever do 41 or more hot dogs
• Miki Sudo is winless since her 2014 Nathan’s victory
• Beat Miki Sudo badly in her last 2 contests at the Buffalo Wing Festival in August

Head to head results for Joey Chestnut vs. Matt Stonie and Sonya Thomas vs. Miki Sudo from the past two years follow after the jump.

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Today is the 48th anniversary of an event held at Nathan’s Famous Coney Island location on June 30, 1967 to commemorate the centennial of the invention of the hot dog in 1867. The UPI reported that Walter Paul ate 127 hot dogs in an hour at that celebration. This is the first Nathan’s hot dog eating contest that can be found in online news archives.

Research has not been able to turn up any more information about the competition, but a picture taken at that event of a bathing-suit clad model holding a plate of hot dogs has been circulating on social media. I have not been able to determine the name of the model or the original image source.

A modified version of this image was used in ESPN’s documentary about the St. Louis Spirits of the ABA to illustrate big-eating “Little Arlene”, a halftime performer for that franchise. (direct link to image in youtube video.) I doubt the woman was Arlene, but I have never seen a picture of her.

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A list of the all time personal bests for people who have eaten 10 or more hot dogs in a Nathan’s contest according to eatfeats database follows:

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An unofficial list of people with a spot in the 2015 finals follows. George Shea said that he expects Sonya Thomas at the finals, so that resolves the question if she has received a bye.
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update Jul 1 Joseph Cerulli has a contest video

update
1) Jeff Butler 22
2) Ronnie Hartman 20

1W) Liz McLurg 8.5

Ronnie Hartman and Scott Thomas appeared on Fox 8 this morning. Jeff Butler also is expected to compete.

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update Jul 3 SonomaNews.com has an article.

update Rico Ramirez has a video

Results Part 1 | Part 2

1) Brian Dudzinski 21
2) Darren Turbeville 13
3) Tony Pirc 11
4T) Joe Pistoia 10
4T) Jon Davis 10

1W) Lesley Ryder 8

Brian Dudzinski is the favorite.

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update Fosters.com has an article

Richard Shea has the top 3 | #4-#7
1) Geoff Esper 30.5
2) Pablo Martinez 30, new wild card leader
3) Micah Collins 25
4) Ryan Siciliano 16
5) Wild Bill Myers 12.5
6) Steven Bliam 11
7) Dick Pruitt 8
8) Quentin Admundsen 7

1W) Mia Davekos 8

Geoff Esper, Pablo Martinez, Micah Collins an Mia Davekos are expected to compete.

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A list of the people who have qualified for the 2015 Nathan’s finals follows. All July 4, 2014 moneywinners have qualified except for Brian Dudzinski and Sonya Thomas.

MLE did not bother to list the name of the sole female participant in the Nashville qualifier (Brandi according to Josh Miller), which might make her the first unpublicized victor in IFOCE/MLE history.
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