Joey Chestnut outside Nathan’s 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest

NNEW YORK — America’s perennial hot dog-swallowing champion will not compete in this year’s Independence Day competition due to a contract dispute, organizers said Tuesday.

Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, 40, has been competing since 2005 and hasn’t lost since 2015. In last year’s famous Nathan’s Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, he scarfed down 62 sausages and buns in 10 minutes.

But Eating at the Major League event organizer George Shea says Chestnut is stepping away from the competition due to a contract dispute.

“We love him, the fans love him,” Shea said, adding that “He made the choice.”

Shea says Chestnut struck a deal with a competing brand — a red line for the Nathan-sponsored event — but didn’t elaborate. He said the dispute came down to exclusivity, not money.

“It would be like Michael Jordan telling Nike, ‘I’m going to represent Adidas too,’” Shea said.

Chestnut did not immediately respond to a request for comment made through his website.

Chestnut has long dominated the competition. Those who competed for second place in the past may have renewed hope of taking first place this year, including international competitors on the culinary circuit.

Last year’s runner-up was Geoffrey Esper of Oxford, Massachusetts, who killed 49 dogs. Third place went to Australian James Webb with 47. This was far from Chestnut’s best effort: his record was 76 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs and Buns in 10 minutes in 2021.

In 2010, the Japanese eating champion Takeru Kobayashi, Chestnut’s then-rival, also stopped competing in the annual bread fight due to a contract dispute with Major League Eating. Kobayashi entered the contest wearing a t-shirt that said “Free Kobi” and was arrested. He was sentenced to 6 months probation. Kobayashi announced his retirement from the sport last month.