MIKI SUDO

Chestnut devoured 63 hot dogs to win Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. Miki Sudo downed 40 wieners to take the women's title.

Chestnut took his 15th win at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, and Sudo made a decisive comeback to win the women's title.

Frankfurter-munching phenom Joey “Jaws” Chestnut has gobbled his way to a 15th win at the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.

The White House party for the July Fourth holiday has the hallmarks of both happiness and commiseration.

Chowdown champ Joey “Jaws” Chestnut broke his own record to gulp to a 14th win in the men’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Sunday.

I came out fast and then I slowed down faster than I would have liked, Chestnut said after the contest. He holds eating records in several food categories, including two 2013 records of eating 141 hard boiled eggs in eight minutes and 121 Twinkies in six minutes. The favorite on the womens side, Miki Sudo from Tucson, Arizona, also came out on top on Thursday, claiming her 6th Nathans title with 31 hot dogs. The competition is partly a marketing event and partly a tribute to Americans love of hot dogs, a staple on barbecue grills on the U.S. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that Americans consume 20 billion hot dogs each year, and about 150 million on the Fourth of July alone.

Joey "Jaws" Chestnut ate 71 wieners and buns to secure his 12th title at Nathan's Famous annual July Fourth hot dog eating contest on Thursday, just a few hot dogs shy of breaking the record he set last year. When asked how he felt after the contest, Chestnut, 35, said, "I feel like I should eat a couple more. Miki Sudo won the women's competition by chomping down 31 hot dogs. Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas holds the all-time women's record of 45 hot dogs in 10 minutes. "He's a normal guy who just happens to be able to eat 74 hot dogs," she said.

CNN imageThe two defending champs won the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Last year they watched the hot dog eating contest on TV, and daughter Vivian was "fascinated by it." Chestnut set a record last year after eating 74 hot dogs, but he fell short after eating 71 hot dogs this year. Sudo wolfed down 31 hot dogs this year, which is down from the 37 hot dogs she ate to win the competition last year and her personal record of 41 hot dogs. Lesco was once again the runner-up, consuming 26 hot dogs to win second place.

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 04: Joey Chestnut reacts after he wins the annual Nathan's hot dog eating contest on July 4, 2019 in New York City. Nathan's held its first hot dog eating contest in Coney Island on July 4, 1916. (Photo by KenaNEW YORK - Joey "Jaws" Chestnut ate 71 wieners and buns to secure his 12th title at Nathan's Famous annual July Fourth hot dog eating contest on Thursday, just a few hot dogs shy of breaking the record he set last year. When asked how he felt after the contest, Chestnut said "I feel like I should eat a couple more." The 33-year-old fell short of her total last year of 37 frankfurters but earned her sixth consecutive title by easily beating runner-up Michelle Lesco, who wolfed down 26 hot dogs.

CONEY ISLAND, Brooklyn -- Reigning champion Miki Sudo has devoured 31 hot dogs to win the women's division of the annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest on New York City's Coney Island boardwalk.The 33-year-old fell short of last year's 37 frankfurters but easily beat runner-up Michelle Lesco, who ate 26 hot dogs.Sudo's performance Thursday morning earns her a sixth consecutive title.Spectators with foam hot dog hats, plastic noisemakers and homemade signs descended on Coney Island's famed boardwalk for the contest.The men will face off Thursday afternoon. Defending champion Joey "Jaws" Chestnut vies for the coveted Mustard Belt against 17 opponents, including 2015 winner Matt Stonie.Chestnut set a record last year by eating 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes.----------

CONEY ISLAND, Brooklyn -- The dog days of summer are upon us.Competitive eaters will scarf down dozens of hot dogs and buns Thursday at the annual Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest on New York's Coney Island boardwalk. California native and 11-time champion Joey "Jaws" Chestnut will face off against 17 opponents to defend last year's record of 74 wieners and buns in 10 minutes. He said Wednesday he plans to "find a rhythm and do what it takes" to win.Miki Sudo, of Las Vegas, hopes to win her sixth consecutive title. She ate 37 franks last year.Thousands gather to watch the spectacle every year, with millions more tuning in on television.ESPN released a documentary Tuesday featuring the rivalry between Chestnut and his longtime foe, Japan's Takeru Kobayashi.----------

Joey "Jaws" Chestnut ate 71 wieners and buns to secure his 12th title at Nathan's Famous annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest on Thursday, just a few hot dogs shy of breaking the record he set last year. Joey Chestnut eats during the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest on July 4, 2019, in New York City. Kena Betancur/Getty ImagesWhen asked how he felt after the contest, Chestnut said, "I feel like I should eat a couple more." Spectators with foam hot dog hats, plastic noisemakers and homemade signs descended on Coney Island's famed boardwalk for the contest. Miki Sudo eats during the women's portion of the annual Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest on July 4, 2019, in New York City.

Joey "Jaws" Chestnut ate 71 wieners and buns to secure his 12th title at Nathan's Famous annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest on Thursday, just a few hot dogs shy of breaking the record he set last year. Joey Chestnut eats during the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest on July 4, 2019, in New York City. Kena Betancur/Getty ImagesWhen asked how he felt after the contest, Chestnut said, "I feel like I should eat a couple more." Spectators with foam hot dog hats, plastic noisemakers and homemade signs descended on Coney Island's famed boardwalk for the contest. Miki Sudo eats during the women's portion of the annual Nathan's Famous July Fourth hot dog eating contest on July 4, 2019, in New York City.

Fourth of July tradition: Nathan's famous hot dog eating competition The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest is a Fourth of July tradition going back 99 years. Joey Chestnut finished 61 franks winning the competition for the 8th year in a row. The women's race was won by rookie Miki Sudo from Las Vegas. She polished off 34 dogs and upset the two-time champ. Ko Im reports.