The 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is nearly here, but missing its marquee star Joey Chestnut.
With the 16-time champion out of the event due to a contract dispute, the Nathan's contest will proceed in its usual Fourth of July time slot and a guaranteed new champion in the men's competition. Meanwhile, nine-time champion Miki Sudo headlines the women's field at Coney Island.
Chestnut's ouster boils down to Major League Eating, the organizers behind the Nathan's contest, objecting to Chestnut's endorsement deal with Impossible Foods, which makes a plant-based hot dog. Chestnut responded to the ban in his first interview Tuesday, claiming that MLE changed its exclusivity conditions too late for him to stop his deal with Impossible and not ruling out a return in the future.