Top dog: Dayton's LaRue wins July 4 hot dog eating contest

One of the rules for Max Casino’s Fourth of July hot dog eating contest in Carson City was anyone vomiting would be disqualified. Fortunately, that didn’t happen Thursday, but 10 contestants did stuff their faces trying to consume 10 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Their mouths and throats contorted in odd ways — garnering cheers from the audience — and two contestants actually finished.

“I like it,” Dayton resident Joe LaRue told the Appeal after clinching first place, winning a trophy, T-shirt and a $1,000 prize.

LaRue, 64, finished 10 hot dogs in five minutes, half the allotted time. After winning, he said had no practice. In fact, it was a matter luck he entered the contest.

“I was driving by today and saw the hot dog eating contest and thought, ‘I’ll try that,’” he said.

Defending his win from last year, Erik Flores was humbled by the loss but still came in second place, earning a $500 prize.

“I don’t think I’ll beat that guy,” Flores said of the new champ.

The 26-year-old Carson City resident was nonetheless happy to have placed this time around.

“I’ll take that,” Flores said. “I was glad I was able to represent.”

Contestants had to be Max reward members and were selected in a lottery except for those who placed last year and returned. It was the second annual event and something the downtown casino plans to continue.

Moderator Anthony Jacobs, Max Casino operations manager, had a blast on the stage above the casino lounge, where the event took place. When a contestant was focused on winning, Jacobs would declare into the mic they had a “hot dog face,” which appeared to spectators as bulging cheeks and fiercely determined eyes.

“We want this to become a really big community event,” Jacobs told the Appeal, “to have fun.”

For information about Max Casino, visit https://www.maxcasinocc.com/.