At this year’s Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, hot dog eating icon Joey “Jaws” Chestnut earned with 15th win of the annual competitive eating event. Despite coming well under his 76 franks and buns record, Chestnut managed to eat 63 hot dogs to secure the victory. The 2022 iteration of Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest marks the first time the competition was held at its traditional location outside Nathan’s flagship shop in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighborhood since the start of the pandemic. Although Joey “Jaws” Chestnut was favored to win again this year, the 38-year-old competitive eater was against the odds standing on the stage with a surgical boot on because of a leg injury. Also, during the early minutes of the contest, protestors made their way on stage setting Chestnut off his rhythm, as the eater had to help subdue one of them. Dressed in Darth Vade and Stormtrooper masks, the duo held signs reading, “Expose Smithfield’s Deathstar.” The signs reference Smithfield Foods​, the manufacturer that produces Nathan’s Famous hot dogs.