July 4, 2009 Chestnut wins NY hot dog eating match

NEW YORK (AP) - Reigning champ Joey Chestnut has logged his third consecutive win in Coney Island's annual hot dog eating contest with a world-record 68 franks.

He defeated his archrival, six-time titleholder Takeru Kobayashi, in Saturday's bout. Chestnut led throughout the contest.

Last year's event initially ended in a tie, with Chestnut and Kobayashi both gobbling down 59 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Chestnut went on to win a dramatic five hot dog eat-off.

This year's Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest was broadcast live on ESPN.

Chestnut is from San Jose, Calif. Kobayashi is from Japan.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)