Dog Fight! Joey Chestnut ‘Gutted’ to Be out of July 4 Hot Dog Eating Contest Over Brand Dispute

NEW YORK—Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the reigning champion of the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, will not participate in this year’s event after signing a deal with a rival brand, organizers said Tuesday. Mr. Chestnut, 40, has long been the face—not to mention the mouth—of the competition. He has vied for the dog-downing contest’s coveted Mustard Belt since 2005 and has won it almost every year since 2007, with the exception of a rare loss in 2015. In 2021, the Westfield, Indiana, resident ingested 76 franks and buns in 10 minutes, a record that still stands. But Major League Eating event organizer George Shea says  Mr. Chestnut is moving away from the contest due to a contract dispute....