Joey Chestnut, left, of San Jose, Calif., defending champion of the Nathan’s Famous July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest, celebrates his victory, logging his third consecutive win with a world-record 68 franks over former champion Takeru Kobayashi of Nagano, Japan, July 4, 2009, in New York. A frank. A wiener. A hot dog. Call it what you will, but our nation can’t get enough of them.

New York ? Joey Chestnut chomped down a record 68 hot dogs, capturing his third straight July Fourth hot-dog eating contest at Coney Island, an annual showcase for flamboyant hot dogging contestants eager to show they really are what they eat.

Chestnut, of San Jose, Calif., hoisted the American flag and then stood like an Olympic athlete as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played following his 68 to 64 1/2 dog victory over his archrival, six-time titleholder Takeru Kobayashi.

When he knew he had won, he shot his right fist into the air, his mouth bulging while he chewed the last of his wieners at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

“This is great,” Chestnut told ESPN, which broadcast the 10-minute contest live. “After the second minute, I knew that my body was cooperating and it was going to be hard to beat me.”

The 25-year-old Chestnut led most of the way, in contrast to last year, when he and his Japanese rival both gobbled 59 hot dogs, forcing a dramatic five hot dog eat-off before Chestnut emerged victorious.

His lead was a contrast to 2005, when Kobayashi trounced Chestnut 49 dogs to 32 dogs. And the number of dogs consumed showed how far the contest has come since the first one in 1916, when 13 dogs were enough to win. Even by 2000, 25 dogs secured victory.

On Saturday, Chestnut and Kobayashi far outpaced their closest competitor, third-place finisher Patrick Bertoletti, who downed 55 frankfurters. Showboating for the cameras prior to the contest, 19 contestants were introduced individually with the kind of fanfare normally reserved for the start of a professional sports championship.

At the five-minute mark, Chestnut led 42 dogs to 40 dogs as he and Kobayashi, standing side by side, stuffing hot dogs and sips of water into their mouths, excess liquid and specks of food invariably dribbling down their faces. Kobayashi was wearing a T-shirt that had autographs from Japanese Olympic athletes.

With a minute to go, Chestnut led 63 dogs to 61 dogs and was ahead 66 to 64 with 10 seconds left.

The champion said he planned to celebrate his victory Saturday night with a lighter touch: a cobb salad with ranch dressing.