Joey Chestnut's Potential Return Has 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Champion 'Afraid'

Patrick Bertoletti, the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating champion, is concerned about retaining his title if Joey Chestnut is allowed to compete in this year's event on July 4.

Speaking to TMZ Sports (starts at 3:05 mark), Bertoletti admitted he's "afraid" of what Chestnut will be capable of doing if he does return to the field with additional motivation given what happened last year.

The issue that resulted in Chestnut's ban stemmed from his marketing deal with Impossible Foods, a plant-based brand that is a direct competitor to Nathan's Hot Dogs.

Major League Eating, the sanctioning body for the Nathan's contest, said in a statement to Steve Cuozzo of the New York Post they "went to great lengths in recent months to accommodate" Chestnut, but his team "prioritized a new partnership with a different brand over our long-time relationship."

There is hope that Chestnut will be back for this year's event. TMZ Sports reported on Tuesday his management team and MLE are in talks about getting him in the field on July 4.

"We're told the initial rift that caused Chestnut's absence from the 2024 contest—his sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods—is not a factor in discussions," TMZ wrote.

Chestnut's absence from the competition last year opened the door for Bertoletti to get the biggest win of his career. The 40-year-old ate 58 hot dogs in 10 minutes. It was the fewest hot dogs eaten by the men's winner of the Nathan's Contest since 2010 when Chestnut "only" finished 54.

Despite not being able to compete in his signature event, Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi renewed their old rivalry in a one-on-one competition in September on a Netflix special. Chestnut defeated Kobayashi 83-66 in 10 minutes of eating.

Chestnut has won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest a record 16 times.