SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – First, on this 100th anniversary year of Route 66, a potentially record number of Cozy Dogs were eaten one night at the Illinois State Fair.

Now, they’re the subject of a sanctioned Major League Eating (MLE) competition Saturday at the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival on the Isringhausen Stage.

The competition helps benefit Reisch Charities, which started several years ago in Springfield, as the city used to be home to the beer with the Reisch name.  Why host an eating competition? Why not, says Roy Mayfield of Reisch Charities, which benefits from the competition.

“We can’t ask for this kind of advertising,” said Mayfield, on the WTAX Morning Newswatch .  “It’s fantastic.  The Mother Road festival is in its 25th year.  It’s always a great draw for Central Illinois, and we just couldn’t be happier that they allowed us to take part.  We are just as happy as could be.”

Reisch Charities is selling raffle tickets for chances to win cash prizes.  You can go to their Facebook page to find out more.

Professional eaters from all over North America will come to Springfield for the competition.  One of them is Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti, who is a Chicago resident and is ranked Number 2 in the world in competitive eating right now, behind Joey Chestnut.

“We do have some great eaters,” said Bertoletti, on WTAX.  “My friend Darien is coming from Canada.  My other friend Jerome — he’s in town from Connecticut.  Then, a bunch of eaters from both coasts.  It’s going to be a stacked field.”

Of all the foods Bertoletti has eaten competitively, a corn dog — or, Cozy Dog as it’s known here — is not one he’s tried before.  But, Bertoletti says he’s been trying.

“I have done a few practices,” said Bertoletti.  “That’s basically what it is — you figure out the technique with the food, and then you just go from there.  A lot of times the strategy goes right out the window when you start.”

Of all the things Bertoletti says he didn’t like eating competitively:  fudge.

In addition to the competition itself, there will be a Blackhawk helicopter flyover.  The winner of the competition will draw the raffle winners.  It all starts Saturday at 1:00 p.m.