Joey Chestnut and his longtime nemesis Takeru Kobayashi are going head-to-head in a hot dog eating contest once again -- but it won't be part of the usual Fourth of July event ... it's a Labor Day extravaganza!!
The showdown is 15 years in the making -- the two last went at it in 2009 at the traditional Nathan's competition in Coney Island ... when Jaws beat Kobayashi to defend his mustard belt.
The timing of the announcement is pretty interesting -- on Tuesday, Major League Eating announced Chestnut would not be part of the Independence Day contest due to an endorsement deal he inked with a rival food company.