Matt ‘Megatoad’ Stonie reigns as spiedie eating champion; Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut defeated

On Aug. 12, competitive eaters from all over the United States converged for the annual Lupo’s Spiedie Eating Championship and competition held at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. Major League Eating sanctions the event. 

Returning was champion Matt ‘Megatoad’ Stonie, who took the title away from Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut last year when he broke the world record, previously set by Chestnut. 

And this year’s contest fared no differently, as Stonie again defeated Chestnut, this time by two subs and for a total of 25.5 spiedie subs consumed in ten minutes. Chestnut tied for second place with Carmen Cincotti; both consuming 23.5 spiedie subs in ten minutes.

Stonie shared his thoughts of participation as he prepared for Saturday’s competition, and in front of packed grandstands at Tioga Downs.

“This contest is much different,” said Stonie, adding, “Unlike the hot dogs, they don’t allow dunking.”

As for the technique Stonie was preparing to use, he stated that he doesn’t really have one.

“I just keep chewing and swallowing,” said Stonie. He added, “Over the years we have developed throat, jaw and stomach muscles.”

Stonie also noted he would be keeping an eye on Chestnut and focused on staying a few bites ahead of him. 

And in anticipation of the competition, Stonie was confident that last year’s world record that he set would be broken.

“We all smoked the record last year,” said Stonie, “so I’m sure we will beat it this year as well.”

For Chestnut, his signature technique is called the corkscrew, where he is seen twisting the food further and faster into his throat, and then helping it down with water provided to the contestants. This technique keeps Chestnut in the ranks as a top competitor.

As the 8 p.m. competition was nearing, the crowd that gathered was going wild, with many screaming out Chestnut’s name, and fans that traveled to support Stonie were erupting as well.

September Gutierrez and her friend traveled from Syracuse, N.Y. to watch Stonie compete on Saturday. Gutierrez stated that they met Stonie four or five years ago, and have been following him ever since, and with great interest.

“We come to cheer him on,” Gutierrez added, stating, “I like to eat, but not that fast.”

For the competition, the competitors are allowed ten minutes to consume as many spiedie subs as possible. And in its fourth year, the numbers of subs consumed during the Tioga Downs competition keeps increasing.

At approximately 7:45 p.m., and after the introductions, competitors began to prepare their eating station by setting up water, and then warming themselves up for the challenge. Some of the competitors were quiet and concentrating early on, like Stonie, and others were loosening their muscles. Chestnut, and so rightly dubbed, was stretching his jaws.

After all, according to Chestnut and from a previous interview, competitive eating requires a different form of athleticism. 

And with black clouds consuming the sky, and the final harness race nearing completion, the first drop of rain fell as the competition began at approximately 8 p.m. After that, the skies let loose and a torrential downpour hovered for the duration.

Chestnut was once again using his corkscrew technique as Stonie shoved the subs in his mouth in a swift, and continuous motion.

Other competitors, like Newburgh, New York’s Daniella Gioia, struggled a bit with the rain. Gioia completed the competition with a total consumption of six and three quarters of a sub.

Gioia stated, after the competition, that the rain hurt her and that during last year’s competition she ate seven. As the fifth ranking female in the circuit for competitive eating, recently consuming 25 hot dogs at the Coney Island competition, Gioia said that her results on Saturday wouldn’t stop her from returning next year.

And even though Chestnut couldn’t regain his championship title on Saturday, he said he had plans to do better next year.

“Next time I’ll come to the area longer and get used to the food,” said Chestnut. He noted that the spiedie subs are more difficult to hold together, and with the torrential rain it made it even more difficult.

But he walked away vowing to return next year, and stated as a warning, “I’m not going to lose three times in a row.”

For two-time champion Stonie, he said he wasn’t hindered by the rain, and that he felt good about the win.

“The rain just added to the intensity of the competition,” said Stonie. 

Stonie ultimately walked away, soaked from rain and gorged, with the championship title and a purse of $2,000.

The other top five contestants included Geoffrey Esper of Oxford, Mass. who came in fourth, and Darron Braden from Orange, Va. who came in fifth. Chestnut and Cincotti shared the second place spot, and Stonie came in first. 

Many of the contestants were schedule to be in Buffalo, N.Y. on Sunday for a competitive eating competition consisting of Kale.