Cathalena E. Burch
Tucson math teacher Michelle "Cardboard Shell" Lesco is competing in her 13th Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York City on Thursday, July 4.
Lesco is ranked the world's 10th eater by Major League Eating.
She will try to come back from her third-place finish at last year's competition, where she downed 24.25 hot dogs.
In 2021, she finished first after eating 30.75 hot dogs.
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts
She is one of 14 women competing in the contest, which dates back to 1916, and 15 men, each hoping to take home the $10,000 first place prize.
All told, the contest awards $20,000 in prizes in the men's and women's contests, with cash prizes going to first- through fifth-place finishers.
People are also reading... Rise in drivers behaving badly across metro Tucson grabs police attention Iconic Tucson bar expanding to Phoenix 35 fun events happening in Tucson this weekend June 27-30 🎞🐐 Don't sleep on the carne asada from The Quesadillas, which might be one of Tucson's best-kept secrets Arizona, Tucson actions on homeless may follow Supreme Court ruling Arizona firm named in Justice Department's $2.7B health care fraud crackdown Big 12 men's basketball projections for 2024-25: Four Corners schools face daunting season in new home Korean fried chicken spot in Tucson opening second location Monsoon is here! 9 Tucson restaurants and bars to watch the weather Take your pick from these Tucson-area Fourth of July fireworks shows 34 fun events happening in Tucson this weekend Where to watch fireworks in Tucson this Fourth of July Ride through Sabino Canyon under the moonlight with these shuttle tours at night 🌙 ESPN projects four Arizona Wildcats to be taken in 2025 NBA Draft Miami Heat pick up two Arizona Wildcats: Pelle Larsson, drafted No. 44, and undrafted Keshad Johnson
The 115-pound Lesco entered the competitive eating arena in 2011 and has competed in contests ranging from chicken wings (152 wings in 10 minutes in the 2013 Hooters of Cincinnati World Wing-Eating Championship), oysters (227 and a first place finish in the 2016 Turkish Airlines World Oyster Eating Championship in Ireland) and mayo (set a Guinness World Record in 2018 when she downed 86.35 ounces of mayo -- three jars -- in three minutes).
Miki Sudo, of Tampa, Florida, holds the women's record of 48.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Miki won her ninth title at the Nathan's Famous contest last year with 39.5 hot dogs and buns eaten, the Associated Press reported.
On the men's side of the completion, the field has shifted this year as Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, the reigning champion of the contest, will not participate in Thursday's event after signing a deal with a rival brand.
Instead, Chestnut will take his hot dog-downing talents to an army base in Texas for America's Independence Day. Chestnut, of Indiana, will compete against soldiers in Fort Bliss, in El Paso, in a 5-minute hot dog eating contest. In 2021, Chestnut set the current record of 76 hot dogs, in 10 minutes, according to AP.
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at [email protected]. On Twitter @Starburch
Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community.
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Cathalena E. Burch
Reporter
Author facebook Author twitter Author email