Kobayashi Retains Yellow Mustard Belt

…for the sixth year running with a new world record, but the US contender Joey Chestnut wowed the crowd with an unprecedented display of courage.

That’s right wiener-fans, the results of the 2006 Coney Island Independence Day Hot Dog Eating Contest are in, and the tiny Japanese man wins again with a new record: 53 3/4 hot dogs in 12 minutes. Great white hope Joey Chestnut wasn’t far behind, with a majestic 52 dogs in the same time.

Here’s Takeru Kobayashi, bigging himself up (quite literally). How come his distended belly’s still smaller than ours before breakfast?

Joey Chestnut should be pleased, though, as his previous record was 40 hot dogs. That’s good form. Maybe we’ll lay down a wager next year.

Joey Chestnut! How can you not love a man called Joey Chestnut who can eat 52 hot dogs in 12 minutes?

We want to stroke his hair.