Upcoming eating contests
eating challenges
(All North Carolina eating challenges and contests in database)
"We are the Champions", a series about unconventional competitions produced by Rainn Wilson, can now be viewed on Netflix. One of the episodes is about a pepper eating contest held in Fort Mill, SC in August 2019.
One of the episodes of Netflix' new series "We Are the Champions" will feature a Carolina Reaper pepper eating contest held at For Mill, SC in August 2019.
GastonGazette has an article about Randy Santel attempting the new challenge burger at Bad Daddy's Burger Bar in Gastonia, NC Friday. The crowd for the challenge was the restaurant's largest since February.
SalisburyPost.com has a report on Randy Santel completing the burrito challenge at Go Burrito in Salisbury, NC.
The Carolina Panthers held a bunless hot dog eating contest for team members at Bank of America stadium today. The rookie defensive linemen were victorious.
The New York Times has an article about a paper published in Biology Letters by James Smoliga, a physiologist at High Point University. titled "Modelling the maximal active consumption rate and its plasticity in humans—perspectives from hot dog eating competitions" which claims that the maximum possible total for a human competing in a 10 minute hot dog eating contest is 83 hot dogs. (Science Mag article)
Joey Chestnut will do a meet and greet at the Hooters in Orlando on International Drive on August 22. update The full schedule has been posted: Charlotte Aug 14, Atlanta Aug 15, Baltimore Aug 21, Orlando Aug 22, Newport, KY Aug 29, Arlington, TX Sept 8.
Dustin Johnson won the first prize of $1000 in yesterday's pepper eating contest held in Fort Mill, SC. (video) update Rock Hill Herald has a contest report. Bella Peters was runner up and received a $1000 consolation prize from the sponsor.
A Carolina Reaper pepper eating contest awarding $1000 will be held in Fort Mill, SC Saturday. The competition is expected to draw competitors from around the globe.
Wingstop in Greensboro, NC will hold an Atomic Wing Challenge on March 16 awarding $200 to the winner.
NewsObserver.com reports that Gregory Scott Wilson ate 27 chili dogs in 51 minutes to break a record of 26 set by Jamie "The Bear" McDonald in 2012.
Reflector.com has an interview with Mort Hurst about his decision to not defend his title at the Collard Festival in Ayden, NC. His 2017 victory was his first competition in about 25 years after suffering a stroke in 1991.
Bob Mills Mitsubishi in Jacksonville, NC will hold a hot dog eating contest on July 28 awarding $1000 to the winner.
2018 Hwy 55 Burgers contest
update June 10
Videos: Beard Meats Food | Brandon Clark | Derek Farley | Knee Tree | Knee Tree results
Articles: ABC11 | CBS17 | FoodNewsFeed
update The top 4 have been announced
| 1st | 1m25s | $2,500.00 | Molly Schuyler | Plumas Lake, CA | |
| 2nd | 1m42s | $1,250.00 | Pat Bertoletti | Chicago, IL | |
| 3rd | 1m46s | $500.00 | Dan Kennedy | ||
| 4th | 1m48s | $250.00 | Bob Shoudt | Royersford, PA |
Facebook Video of contest. Around minute 23, Leah Shutkever is announced as having finished before Adam “Beard Meats Food” Moran and is granted the unofficial title of UK’s best competitive eater.
Brandon Clark and Bob Shoudt did a pre-contest Q & A session.
I think this will be the first matchup of Adam “Beard Meats Food” Moran and Leah Shutkever since the UK Battle of Battle Eaters qualifier in 2015.
Yesterday Yasir Salem was the top fundraiser for the Doughman quadrathlon, the subject of the Durham, NC episode of Man vs. Food. Instead of competing on a four person team, he did all four stages of the race (running, biking, swimming, eating) by himself.
Additional entrants for the Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries World Hamburger Eating Championship at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, NC on June 2 have been announced. The current field is Molly Schuyler, Wayne Algenio, Adam "Beard Meats Food" Moran, Leah Shutkever, "Notorious B.O.B" Bob Shoudt, Dan "Killer" Kennedy, Erik "The Electric" Lamkin, Patrick Bertoletti, "Da Garbage Disposal" Brandon Clark, Nathan Figueroa, Alex Thomas, Nick Wehry and Jon Drushel. Spots are still available.
All Pro Eating announced that The Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries World Hamburger Eating Championship will return to Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, NC on June 2. The contest format has been changed to a fixed time of 5:55 and the purse will be $2500/$1250/$500/$250. Beard Meats Food reported that Leah Shutkever had received an invitation in a recent podcast with Wayne Algenio an Darron Breeden. (around 19 minute mark)
Chronic Tacos will hold a taco eating contest in Raleigh, NC on March 24 as part of its grand opening celebration. "Wee Man" of Jackass is expected to attend. (I have not seen anything about the return of the Gringo Bandito Chronic Tacos Challenge in 2018; the Sabroso Taco Fest website has no mention of an eating contest.)
Daily Advance reports that Bradley Hardison was arrested for allegedly breaking into a Dunkin Donuts in Elizabeth City, NC. He earlier received notoriety for getting arrested for a break-in in Camden, NC after winning a donut eating contest held by police in 2014.
An interview with Mort Hurst after he returned to competitive eating after a quarter century absence followning a 1991 stroke is one of the News and Observer's favorite videos of 2017.
Jennifer Martin ate 5 pounds of pho in 10 minutes to win an eating contest held at MOFU Shoppe Raleigh, NC on Saturday.
Tin Roof in Charlotte, NC will hold a hot dog eating contest on October 27 awarding $200 to the winner.
Mort Hurst returned from a quarter-century absence from competitive eating with a win at the Ayden (NC) Collard Festival. Hurst gained fame for his eating exploits in the late 1980s, then put his career on hiatus after suffering a stroke in 1991. Reflector.com has an article about his comeback. update WNCT has an article
NewsObserver.com has a profile of Mort Hurst, whose eating feats achieved notoriety in the late 1980s. He will make a comeback at the Ayden, NC Collard Festival on September 9 after a 1991 stroke resulted in his retirement from competitive eating. update Sept 8article about Hurst's comeback
Eric "Badlands" Booker appeared on Fox 46 Charlotte to promote tomorrow's Nathan's qualifier at the 600 Festival, so presumably he is the favorite for that competition.
Ronnie Hartman will also compete.