Nathan's Famous has announced that the official 2015 qualifying tour for the annual Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest will kick off in Brooklyn, Michigan, at Michigan International Speedway on August 17. The official qualifying event, which is the first of 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 10 am before the Pure Michigan 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race.
The event will feature top-ranked eaters, including world pork rind- and watermelon-eating champion Buffalo Jim Reeves. Reeves, a chicken wing-eating veteran from Buffalo, NY, is known for his extraordinary jaw strength. Also competing will be Nicole Rodriguez, a rookie who is a fast-rising star in the eating community.
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.
"The annual hot dog-eating contest circuit is synonymous with summer and all the enjoyment it brings," said Wayne Norbitz, president and COO of Nathan's Famous. "Nathan's Famous is proud to be part of the American summer, and we look forward to a great contest in Michigan."
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.
About Nathan's Famous
Nathan's is a Russell 2000 Company that currently distributes its products in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Cayman Islands and nine foreign countries through its restaurant system, foodservice sales programs and product licensing activities. At June 29, 2014, the Nathan's restaurant system consisted of 311 units, comprised of 306 franchised restaurants and five company-owned units (including one seasonal unit). Nathan's was ranked #55 on the Forbes list of the Best Small Companies in America and was listed as the Best Small Company in New York State in October 2013. Last year, over 480 million Nathan's Famous hot dogs were sold. For additional information about Nathan's please visit our website at www.nathansfamous.com.
Source: Nathan's Famous
