With the 2007 competition bringing in 1.5 million viewers on ESPN, it should be no surprise that this year's battle has the world buzzing to see if Kobayashi can take back his crown...err...Mustard Belt:
Takeru Kobayashi of Japan smashed the world record in 2001 and was unbeatable for more than half a decade until America's Joey Chestnut became the new king of all tube steaks at Coney Island last year.Doesn't a Hebrew National sound tasty right now?
Chestnut inhaled a world-record 66 hot dogs — including the buns — in 12 minutes at the annual contest at Nathan's Famous in Coney Island, N.Y. The San Jose, Calif., man won the coveted Mustard Belt and waddled off with the $10,000 grand prize.
