Renowned competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi scarfed down an astounding 69 hot dogs in 10 minutes yesterday, a new world record that will come with an asterisk since the feat occurred outside of sanctioned competition at 230 Fifth’s roofotp bar. Thanks to a contract dispute with Major League Eating, Kobayshi has been barred from the world famous 4th of July wiener wingding on Coney Island, an event which he won for six years running between 2001 and 2006 and where he was arrested last year after after being denied entry and storming the stage mid-frankfurter fest.
Hundreds opted out of a trip to the Coney boardwalk to witness Kobayahi’s feat, during which he gained 19 pounds (tipping the scales at a mammoth 159 pounds post-pig out). He squeaked by Joey Chestnut’s previous world record set in 2009 by just one hot dog, though MLE will not recognize the new mark. Meanwhile, Chestnut took the Coney Island battle by consuming 62 franks. [The Feast]