Chestnut hoping to break record for charity at Queen City Ex

The 15-time champion of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Contest is looking to make history at the Queen City Ex in Regina Friday.

Joey Chestnut will be participating in a charity mini-donut eating competition against some of city’s finest, who had to raise $1,000 in order to participate. The goal is to raise enough money for 3,000 meals for the Regina Food Bank.

Chestnut appeared on The Greg Morgan Morning Show Friday, and said he’s ready to give the competition his all. His record for number of mini-donuts eaten in eight minutes is currently 223.

“I did a little bit of practice with donuts and I watched a video of me beating a (mini-donuts) record before,” he explained. “I think I can find my rhythm, find my happy place, and make these bad boys go down.”

Generously, Chestnut said he thinks the contest will be competitive.

“I’m eating against Regina’s best,” he stated. “I think a normal person will be able to eat about 40, and I’m expecting most of these guys will be able to eat 60. I’m expecting to eat over 200.”

Chestnut said he’s practised eating mini-donuts before, and knows he has a chance to beat his current world record.

“You don’t break records the first time in the contest. I break them in practice first,” he said. “Just like anything, you build a tolerance. After the contest, I’m lethargic, drunk on food, and it takes a couple days to even things out.”

The champion eater said he’s always looking for the next big challenge.

“I’m always trying to make a record. You’re going against Father Time. You want to make sure that as you get older, you’re still pushing hard. And I don’t want to get lazy. Being lazy is no fun for anybody.”

Chestnut said warm water will help him down the hundreds of mini-donuts he expects to consume. According to Chestnut, he has to keep himself in shape by training all year.

“At least once a week, I’m trying to eat at least one meal. There’s all the little muscles in your throat that get tired, where if you don’t use it, you lose it,” he explained.

Visitors to the exhibition can watch Chestnut attempt to break his world record by heading to the O16 stage at 5:30 p.m.