Pat Bertoletti crowned hot dog eating champion amid Joey Chestnut's absence
Chestnut was barred from this year's contest due to a sponsorship dispute
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest has a new champion, as Pat Bertoletti ate 58 hot dogs on Thursday.
Bertoletti's victory comes as Americans across the nation are celebrating Independence Day. Thousands of fans descended on Coney Island to watch competitive eaters wolf down as many hot dogs (and buns) as possible in a 10-minute time span during the contest.
However, this year's slate of competitors was noticeably missing one high-profile contestant — 16-time champion Joey Chestnut.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Patrick Bertoletti won the men's title with 58 hot dogs at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York City on Thursday. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
He was reportedly barred from competing in this year's event. Chestnut recently signed a deal with Impossible Foods, a rival of Nathan's that has launched a vegan wiener, the New York Post reported.
JOEY CHESTNUT GEARS UP FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY HOT DOG COMPETITION FACEOFF AGAINST HUNGRY SOLDIERS
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Instead, he will compete against soldiers at a U.S. Army base in El Paso, Texas, beginning at 5 p.m. ET.
Chestnut's absence left the traditional Brooklyn event wide open for a new winner in the men’s division, with eaters from around the world competing for the highly-coveted mustard belt.
Joey Chestnut, winner of the 2021 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, poses for photos at Coney Island's Maimonides Park in New York on July 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Brittainy Newman, File)
Last year, Chestnut, of Indiana, chewed his way to the title by downing 62 dogs and buns in 10 minutes. The record, which he set in 2021, is 76.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He was initially disinvited from the event over a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, a company that specializes in plant-based meat substitutes.
Hot dogs are ready for the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Thursday. (Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images)
Major League Eating, which organizes the Nathan’s Famous contest, has since said it walked back the ban, but Chestnut decided to spend the holiday with the troops anyway.
Chestnut said he would not return to the Coney Island contest without an apology.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Impossible Foods will also donate to an organization supporting military families based on the number of hot dogs eaten at the event, a spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, Miki Sudo defended her title and set a women's world record.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News' Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.