SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The announced “front-runner,” Chicagoan Pat Bertoletti (pictured, center), won the first Cozy Dog eating contest at the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival Saturday by eating 51 dogs in ten minutes.

Third-place winner was Jerome Burns of Danbry, Ct., with 25, and runner-up was Darrien Thomas of Toronto with 37.5. Some contestants did not even get into double digits.

Major League Eating put on the contest, sponsored by Cozy Dog Drive-in and Reisch Charities.

“I don’t chew a lot,” Bertoletti said after his victory. “It was a liability as a kid. I got yelled at, but I turned it into a talent. My twin sister entered me, and I was good at it, so I just kept doing it. It’s been twenty years.” And about any criticism that such contests are a waste of food? Bertoletti was ready for that question. “At Major League Eating, we donate to all the food banks, so we try to offset things like that.”

Photos by Dave Dahl and Chris Bullock
Patrick Bertoletti won the inaugural Cozy Dog eating competition at the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival Saturday, September 26.
Patrick Bertoletti, second from left, win the inaugural Cozy Dog eating competition at the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival Saturday, September 26.