Why Joey Chestnut isn't in the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Here's why you won't see the legendary competitive eater this year.

Are you tuning into the annual July 4th extravaganza known as the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest and wondering why you’re not seeing Joey Chestnut downing dogs as usual, breaking records along the way and winning an event he’s won so many times?

We have an answer. We did a longer explainer about the whole thing, but here’s the summary: Chestnut made a deal with Impossible Foods to promote their hot dogs made with plant-based ingredients. Because he made a promotion deal with another brand that he can’t promote — because, y’know, Nathan’s runs the event! — he was out.

Major League Eating said he wasn’t banned, but Chestnut is out. He’ll be at Fort Bliss in El Paso, downing dogs against soldiers on Thursday.