NEW YORK — The Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest is back, and famed competitive eater Joey ''Jaws'' Chestnut is hoping for a comeback 17th win on Friday.
The 41-year-old, from Westfield, Indiana, was not in last year's event due to a contract dispute involving a deal he had struck with a competing brand, the plant-based meat company Impossible Foods. But now he's back, saying things have been ironed out.
Patrick Bertoletti, of Chicago, won the title in Chestnut's absence and is the defending men's champion.
In the women's competition, defending champion Miki Sudo, 39, of Tampa, Fla., is the favorite this year and is seeking her 11th title. Last year she downed a record 51 dogs.
The annual gastronomic battle, which dates back to 1972, is held in front of the original Nathan's Famous' restaurant at New York's Coney Island and draws large crowds of fans, many in foam hot dog hats.
Competitors in the men's and women's categories chow down as many hot dogs as possible in 10 minutes. They are allowed to dunk the dogs in cups of water to soften them up, creating a stomach-churning spectacle.
The 15 men in the competition hail from across the U.S. and internationally, including Australia, Czech Republic, Canada, England and Brazil.
The 13 women competitors are all Americans.
