SPARKS " Champion speed eater Joey Chestnut has retained his title as the king of pork for a third straight year, scarfing down 9.8 pounds of ribs in 12 minutes.
Chestnut, of San Jose, Calif., was among 15 competitors Wednesday night in the eating contest that kicked off the annual Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off in Sparks.
He claimed the top prize of $2,500.
Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago came in second, consuming 7.4 pounds of rib meat.
Chestnut is also the reigning champ of the hot dog eating competition held every July 4th in New York's Coney Island.
The rib festival sponsored by John Ascuaga's Nugget runs through Labor Day.