Joey Chestnut says he's 'feeling good' ahead of hot dog eating contest

Ahead of the annual Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, 17-time winner Joey Chestnut said he’s "feeling good."

"Feeling good, I'm hungry, and it's a beautiful day. This is going to be a great Fourth of July," Chestnut said in an interview on "Good Morning America" Saturday. 

Asked if he did some intermittent fasting before the competition, he said, "I’m doing my cleanse, I'm empty and I'm loose," he said. 

The 2026 hot dog eating contest is set to take place on Saturday at the flagship restaurant in New York's Coney Island.

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The women’s event begins at 10:45 a.m. ET and the men's event is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET.

Chestnut is favored to win his 18th title. He set the men’s world record in 2021 with 76 hot dogs.