Coverage for the 105th annual event will begin with the women's event starting at 11:30am EDT / 8:30am PDT on ESPN3, followed by the men's event starting at 12:00pm EDT / 9:00am PDT on ESPN HD. Will previous three-time winner Sonya Thomas regain the Pepto Pink Belt now that seven-time winner and reigning Pink Belt champion Miki Sudo won't participate while awaiting the birth of her first child? Will Joey Chestnut successfully fend off current #2 ranked eater Geoffrey Esper, current #3 ranked eater Darron Breeden and others to win his fourteenth Mustard Yellow International Belt title in the last fifteen years and break the July 4th record of 75 hot dogs in ten minutes he set last year? -G
With past Pepto Pink Belt champions Miki Sudo and Sonya Thomas not competing this year, Michelle Lesco won her first Pink Belt today by eating 30 3/4 hot dogs in ten minutes, followed by Sarah Rodriguez with 24 hot dogs. Larell Marie Mele finished in third-place with 18 3/4 hot dogs. Joey Chestnut fended off Geoffrey Esper, Nick Wehry, Darron Breeden and other gastronomical gladiators to win the Mustard Yellow International Belt for the fourteenth time in the last fifteen years by eating a world record 76 hot dogs and buns in ten minutes, surpassing the previous world record set by himself last year of 75 hot dogs and buns in ten minutes. Also, Eric "Badlands" Booker defeated Terrance Kenner (YouTube Channel: ItsKenny) finishing first in chugging down a gallon of Nathan's Famous Lemonade in the Inaugural Chug Contest. -G