SAN FRANCISCO — America’s top competitive eaters will battle at the Century Theatres in San Bruno on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 12 p.m. On the line is the title of California Hot Dog-Eating Champion and the chance to compete in the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York on July 4, 2008. This year’s contest will be the first opportunity for a non-Joey Chestnut Californian to qualify for The Big Show. Number 29th-ranked “Double-O” Kevin Ross of Temecula, a blueberry pie specialist, is the favorite but will be closely battled by San Francisco’s Jake “False” True. Also competing will be the competitive eating circuit’s first sibling duo, The McKirdy Brothers out of Eugene, Oregon. Andrew and Cameron, who have based their collective persona on the “Hanson Brothers” from the 1977 classic hockey flick Slap Shot, have brought a new aggressive take-no-prisoners style to the competitive eating table. The sole interloper will be 26th-ranked Brian “Yellowcake” Subich of Johnstown, PA.

“Our hot dog eating contest has always been the high point of the Coney Island calendar, but never has the excitement been bigger than 2008,” said Wayne Norbitz, president and COO of Nathan’s Famous, Inc. “Fans worldwide consider the Nathan’s July Fourth contest to stand among the greatest sporting events in history, and we are thrilled to sponsor events throughout the country as we approach what will surely be a dramatic Independence Day.”

Ryan Nerz, an esteemed emcee for Major League Eating, the group that governs the Nathan’s Famous contest circuit, said: “I believe an unknown eating champion is walking the streets of San Francisco, a champion who possesses the pride of California and the stomach capacity required to set a new world hot dog eating record.” In 2007, 45,000 fans crowded the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island to witness Joey Chestnut’s victory over Takeru Kobayashi. An additional 1.5 million households tuned in to the contest’s live telecast on ESPN. Chestnut ate a world record 66 Nathan’s HDBs in the contest. Kobayashi, who struggled with a jaw injury, placed second with 63. Kobayashi has spent the last several months recuperating to prepare for the rematch.

It has become a tradition for Nathan’s Famous to donate food to hunger relief organizations on July Fourth. The company will expand on that tradition this year by giving 100,000 hot dogs to Food Bank for New York City. MLE Gives, an initiative that assists hunger-related charities, has raised over $35,000 since Thanksgiving.The Nathan’s Famous 2008 qualifying circuit will visit more than a dozen cities, including Philadelphia, PA, Las Vegas, NV, Minneapolis, MN, Atlanta, GA and San Francisco, CA. Qualifiers are open to those 18 years of age and older and registration is handled online. Interested parties can visit www.nathansfamous.com. The winner of each qualifier receives the right to compete in the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, which, according to archives, has occurred each July 4th in Coney Island, NY since 1916.

Event Information:
WHAT: Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest Qualifier; WHERE: The Shops at Tanforan, Lower Level Court near J.C. Penney, 1150 El Camino Real San Bruno, California 94066; 650-873-2000; WHEN: Saturday, June 28, 2008; TIME: 12 p.m.