Joey Chestnut Loses Wing Eating Crown

An old fan favorite has taken Joey Chestnut's crown as the top competitive chicken wing eater in the country.

The Black Widow, also known as Sonya Thomas, ate 181 chicken wings in 12 minutes, at the National Buffalo Wing Festival in Buffalo, N.Y.

Chestnut came in second after eating 169 chicken wings.

The National Buffalo Wing Festival says the wings originated in the city. But attendance at that event is much smaller than Philadelphia's notorious Wing Bowl.

Thomas, 43, set a new 12-minute world record. Chestnut, of San Jose, Calif., holds the 30-minute record after consuming 241 wings in Wing Bowl 2008.

Thomas says she's "so happy" because Chestnut had been favored to win. She says her technique of using her hands more than her mouth helped her.

The 43-year-old from Alexandria, Va., says she was still hungry after the contest ’ so she ate 20 hot wings.

Chestnut defeated Thomas in several Wing Bowl events in Philadelphia, and Thomas also lost by one wing to the legendary El Wingador in 2005.

Add Comments With Facebook

Many pages in this Fox Television Stations, Inc. web site feature links to other sites, some of which are operated by companies unrelated to Fox Television Stations, Inc. Fox Television Stations, Inc. has no control over the content or availability of any linked site. TM and (c) 2012 Fox Television Stations, Inc., and its related entities. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, duplication, or distribution in any form is expressly prohibited.