Hot dog eating record surpassed in Arizona

TEMPE, Ariz., June 3 (UPI) -- The world record for the most hot dogs eaten by one person in 12 minutes fell in Arizona this weekend.

U.S. champ Joey Chestnut surpassed the record of 53 3/4 hot dogs held for six years by Takeru Kobayashi of Japan by wolfing downing a whopping 59 1/2 wieners in 12 minutes Saturday, the East Valley Tribune in Tempe reported.

By setting the world record at Nathan's Famous 4th of July International Hot Dog-Eating Competition in Tempe, Chestnut also officially qualified to face off against Kobayashi at the July 4 championship.

But Chestnut admits he will have to strain his body to at the New York title event.

"I'm going to keep pushing my body and maybe I can beat him," Chestnut said.

The emcee at Chestnut's record-breaking performance said the competitor even predicted a special performance prior to the event.

"I've been talking to him and he said, 'Unless I have a really bad day I'm gonna break (the record),'" competition official Ryan Nerz told the newspaper.