Joey Chestnut Wins 2013 Hot Dog Eating Contest – Again

The 2013 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest re-crowned two reigning champions — Joey Chestnut and Sonya Thomas.

Chestnut earned his seventh straight title in the men’s race, scarfing down 69 hot dogs and setting a new world record. He ate 18 more hot dogs than his nearest competitor.

Chestnut, who hails from San Jose, Calif., and earned the nickname “Jaws,” took home $10,000 and a bejeweled mustard-yellow champion’s belt.

Matt Stonie, 21, came in second, devouring 51 hot dogs.

Chestnut’s eating rival, Takeru Kobayashi, did not compete in the 97th  annual competitive hot dog eating event at Coney Island this year. But Chestnut bested Kobayashi’s record of six titles in a row with this year’s win.

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In the women’s race, Sonya Thomas, of Alexandria, Va., picked up her third consecutive title. The “Black Widow” as she is known ate 36 and three-quarters hot dogs and buns to win the women’s competition.

Juliet Lee was the front runner for much of the race, but Thomas caught up with less than two minutes to go.

When the buzzer sounded, Lee trailed Thomas by just a fraction of a dog.