Location: Fresno, CA
CHESTNUT TAKES FRESNO TACOS TACO TITLE!
Joey Chestnut ate 92 Ortega's Taqueria carne asada tacos in eight minutes to claim the inaugural, la primera, Fresno Tacos World Taco-Eating Championship. His achievement was enjoyed by the large throng who gathered to witness this history-making event. None can deny his mastery of the taco. It is absolute.
Chestnut led early, up by double digits over second-place finisher Matt Stonie at the halfway point; Stonie would finish with 83. One wonders what Chestnut's final tally may have been if he had encountered stiffer resistance in the opening stanzas of the contest. Which is not to say Chestnut cruised to a comfortable victory in the mode of Icarus, but it is to say that he led first, led fast, and never needed to look behind him in the dying minutes. He straight owned this event from the start. (He would communicate wth MLE HQ via text message much later that evening: "That was a great event." Which it was.)
Miki Sudo would have to settle for third; no shame in such a thing when going head-to-head against Chestnut and Stonie. Steve Hendry pipped Michelle Lesco for fourth, an impressive feat. Amateur eater Zach Armas impressed with 43, coming off the back of his amateur round performance of 20 tacos in one minute and 43 seconds the previous evening. He is from Clovis, CA, and is very muscular.
Full results below. Gracias a todo en Fresno.
FULL RESULTS! 1 Joey Chestnut 92 tacos in 8 min 2 Matt Stonie 83 3 Miki Sudo 70 4 Steve Hendry 49 5 Michelle Lesco 46 6 Zach Armas 43 7 Pablo Martinez 33 8 Rich Franco 30 9 Aaron Stroope 27 10 Mary Bowers 20 11 Sabrina Quezada 9
This contest* took place at 6pm on Saturday, July 29th, 2017 at the home of the Fresno Tacos and the Fresno Grizzlies, Chukchansi Park, 1800 Tulare St, Fresno, CA 93721!
ABOUT THE FRESNO GRIZZLIES! The Fresno Grizzlies, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, are a member of the 16-team Pacific Coast League and are one of 30 teams in the world playing the highest level of Minor League Baseball. The team plays at 12,500-seat Chukchansi Park in Downtown Fresno, which is also a year-round community gathering place, hosting myriad other special events beyond Grizzlies’ games, such as concerts, professional soccer and high school sporting events. The Grizzlies will enter the 2017 season – their 20th in Fresno – on the momentum of back-to-back winning seasons, including a PCL and National Championship in 2015. For information on 2017 Fresno Grizzlies season ticket and mini-plans, fans should call the Grizzlies’ ticket office at 559.320.TIXS between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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*All applicants must be 18 years of age or older and fully acknowledge and understand the inherent dangers and risks associated with participating in an eating contest. The applicant further acknowledges and understands that the MLE/IFOCE coordinates with event sponsor(s) to select and approve eligible participants, and that the MLE/IFOCE shall decide, at its sole discretion, whether an applicant is eligible to participate in any eating event, and/or related activities. The MLE/IFOCE may revoke an applicant's eligibility to participate in the eating contest, or related activities, at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion. The MLE/IFOCE and the event sponsors reserve the right, at any time, to change any and all details concerning the event, including, e.g., time, duration, location and prize structure.