13 vie for Slugburger eating title in Mississippi

CORINTH, Miss. (AP) - Professional gorgers Matt Stonie and Joey “Jaws” Chestnut return Saturday for the Slugburger Festival in Corinth.

Eleven other competitors will join Stonie and Chestnut for the 4th Annual World Slugburger Eating Championship set for 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Historic Depot and C.A.R.E. Garden.

Stonie, 23, downed a record 43 slugburgers in 10 minutes last year - one better than the 31-year-old Chestnut. Both are from San Jose, California.

Stonie is trying for his third straight slugburger title.

Stonie recently defeated Chestnut at the July Fourth Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Championship in Coney Island, New York.

The Daily Corinthian reports (https://bit.ly/1TpXvlo) three locals will compete - Jeff Stark, former Main Street Corinth director Taylor Coombs and first-time competitor and new Main Street director Brent Johnson.

“I have never claimed to be a professional eater and I’m certainly not looking for a career change,” Johnson said. “I have a personal goal of four slugburgers during the contest.”

Johnson said he is looking forward to the friendly rivalry between himself and Coombs.

“Apparently it’s tradition for the festival chairman to take part as a competitor. I’m just happy Taylor decided to do it again this year,” he said. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t get out of it.”

Slugburgers, a local delicacy, aren’t made of slugs as the name implies. The secret recipe includes meat and a breading extender, such as soybean meal. The patty is deep fried and garnished with pickle, mustard and onion.

“I’m kinda of different as I like my slugs with cheese and ketchup only,” said Johnson. “I just hope can actually eat four dressed the traditional way.”

The winner must down the most slugburgers in 10 minutes. In addition to bragging rights, the winner receives $1,500.

Other competitors are Juan “More Bite” Rodriguez of Chicago; Wild Bill Myers of Breingsville, Pennsylvania; “Nasty” Nate Biller of Keller, Texas; Matthew Raible of Peoria, Illinois; Alex “The Moose” Perez of Dallas; Steve Bennett of Houston, Texas; Daniel Menard of Gulfport; and Mike Whities of Brandon.

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Information from: The Daily Corinthian.