Nathan’s Famous has announced that the official 2015 qualifying tour for the annual Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest will touch down in Dover, Delaware, at Dover International Speedway on September 28. The official qualifying event, which is among more than a dozen contests that will be held in cities across the United States prior to the July 4 contest, will take place at 12 P.M. at Victory Plaza at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware.
The event will feature top-ranked eaters, including Badlands Booker, the matzo ball- and donut- and corned beef hash-eating champion of the world, and Wild Bill Myers, a Philly cheesesteak- and poutine-eating veteran.
The top male and top female finishers will earn a spot to compete in the finals at the original Nathan’s Famous in Brooklyn, NY. In recent years, an estimated 35,000 fans have traveled to the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island on July 4 to watch the contest in person. The ESPN live telecast of the event has achieved top ratings, attracting millions of viewers each year since it was first aired in 2004.
Joey Chestnut of San Jose, CA holds the world record for eating 69 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs and Buns in 10 minutes. Sonya Thomas of Alexandria, VA, consumed 45 Hot Dogs and Buns in 10 minutes to set a record for females.
According to archives, the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest has occurred each July 4th in Coney Island, NY since 1916, the year Nathan Handwerker opened the legendary restaurant. Major League Eating, the governing body of all stomach-centric sport, sanctions the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Circuit and ensures the contests are judged professionally and that safety standards are in place at each event.
Those interested in competing in the qualifier should visits www.majorleagueeating.com to obtain information and register. All competitors must be over 18 years of age.
Nathans Famous PR
