Joey Chestnut, banned from the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest due to a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, competed in a parallel event at Fort Bliss Army base, where he ate 57 hot dogs in five minutes, edging out four U.S. Army soldiers who combined for 49 hot dogs. Despite his absence from Nathan's contest, Patrick Bertoletti won with 58 hot dogs in ten minutes. Chestnut's performance at Fort Bliss has led many fans to regard him as the real champion, given his faster pace. The ban, stemming from Chestnut's endorsement of a rival vegan brand, surprised many in the competitive eating community. The Fort Bliss event also raised money for military families and was streamed on Chestnut's YouTube channel. Looking ahead, Chestnut will face Takeru Kobayashi in a one-on-one contest on Netflix this Labor Day.