This year’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest will go on on July 4th, even thnough the coronavirus pandemic tried to stop it. It just won’t happen at the Coney Island stand. Instead, it is happening indoors at an undisclosed location.
That is not the only change. Matt Stonie, who is the only person to beat 12-time champ Joey Chestnut, will not be participating this year. He was forced to drop out today because New York has ordered that anyone who travels from a COVID-19 hot zone will have to quarantine for 14 days. Since he lives in California, and that is one of the states on the list, he will not be able to chomp down on as many hot dogs as he can in 10 minutes.
Stonie will be replaced by Nick Wehry, who lives in the safe state of Connecticut. The 2006 Champ had some words for his replacement, “@NWehry2415 better eat enough HDBs for the 2 of us. 💪” If he does, then he might beat Joey Jaws.
When it comes to Chestnut, he flew into NYC yesterday, so he will be there on Saturday at 12n to try to win his 13th belt!
Watch the sporting event of the year, to me, on ESPN.
