STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Nathans Famous competitive eating champ Joey Chestnut now can claim fame on another level. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum presented a new bobblehead this week to commemorate the 14-time winner of Coney Islands annual hot dog downing contest.

Chestnut helped design the limited edition bobblehead, each numbered to 2,020. They are available for purchase through the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based, National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museums online store. Each sells for $30 plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

The Joey Chestnuts bobblehead (Courtesy of the National Bobblehead Museum)

The figurine features a slender Chestnut holding a tray of franks while standing on a hot dog-shaped base with a built-in counter. The chomping champ nicknamed Jaws wears a t-shirt that says, Hot Dog Eating Champion.

This year on the Fourth of July, the 37-year-old Chestnut had consumed 76 hot dogs and buns in the annual 10-minute contest. He beat his own record established over a six-year tenure as the reigning Mustard Belt holder. He took the top title in Nathans contest six years ago from another world famous food scoffer, Takeru Tsunami Kobayashi.

According to the HOF and Museum, Chestnut holds over 50 world eating records that include speed consumption of foods that range from lobsters to tamales to Twinkies. The Museum said that he prepares for gorges by expanding the stomach with milk, water and protein supplements, then fasts a few days prior to competition. Last year, Chestnut told CNBC he trains for three months prior to the Coney contest with weekend practice runs and recovery days to follow.

Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said, Were excited to unveil this unique bobblehead of the greatest eater of all time. By claiming top honors in the Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest year after year, Joeys victories have become a Fourth-of-July tradition and his legacy as the worlds greatest eater will be hard to top.

Bill LaCurtis of Eltingville celebrates his hot dog eating contest win with a hot dog at the Richmond County Fair Sunday, September 4, 2016 at Historic Richmond Town. (Staten Island Advance File Photo)Staff-Shot

EATING CONTESTS ON STATEN ISLAND

Staten Islands competitive eating contests will happen at the Richmond County Fair this September. Details are forthcoming from the Historical Society that runs the showdowns but, generally speaking, the edibles will involve pies and hot dogs. Former champions have included Eltingville resident Bill LaCurtis, a perennial competitor who tackles the bun and dog separately. He first soaks the bread in water which eases it down the esophagus.

In 2019, Empire Outlets sponsored the boroughs first cannoli-eating competition. Nine competitors from around the country came to the St. George shopping complex to gobble down the goods for gift cards and a gym membership. Eaters bellied up to folding tables for a three-minute session. The winner that year was Gentleman Joe Menchetti of Cheshire, Ct. who shoveled down 22 red-white-and-blue sprinkled cannoli crafted by Marks Bake Shoppe in Richmond.

The annual San Gennaro Feast also holds a contest with cannoli as the centerpiece. Staten Islanders have been in the spotlight at this presentation in Little Italy in years past. Former winners have included Joe Gavone Rose and Krazy Kevin Lipsitz. Lipsitz announced his retirement from competitive eating at the 2008 Feast.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.

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Joey Chestnut is commemorated with bobblehead as S.I. competitive eaters can gear up for contests - SILive.com