Smithfield and Major League Eating's Matt Stonie Set Bacon-Eating World Record With 182 Strips

SMITHFIELD, Va., Feb. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- No one ever said there was such a thing as eating too much bacon. To prove it, Smithfield kicked off its 2015 sponsorship of the Richard Petty Motorsports' No. 43 race team with driver Aric Almirola by launching the Smithfield Pig Out Chase and teaming up with Major League Eating's Matt Stonie to set the world record for how much bacon is eaten within five minutes – 182 slices!

Spectators and bacon-lovers alike gathered in the Daytona International Speedway Midway to witness this momentous occasion. The record-setting event launched the Smithfield Pig Out Chase, a season-long amateur eating competition where race fans can test their passion for pork for the chance to compete at the ultimate eating showdown in Homestead this November. Matt Stonie joined "The King" Richard Petty and Aric Almirola to judge the first Smithfield Pig Out Chase competition of the season.

"Daytona race weekend certainly was packed with excitement on the track, but nothing matched the excitement off the track when Matt set the bacon-eating record by eating 182 Smithfield bacon slices in five minutes," said Dennis Pittman, Senior Director of Corporate Communications, Smithfield. "It was a great way to kick-off the Smithfield Pig Out Chase and we're looking forward to seeing the best of the amateurs go head-to-head at the end of the race season in Homestead."

A rising star in the competitive eating world, and currently second-ranked, Major League Eating's Matt Stonie has participated in dozens of eating competitions. He is the reigning record holder for eating the most gyros, birthday cake, frozen yogurt, pumpkin pie and, now, bacon!

"I'm a huge bacon fan, so I jumped at the chance to team up with Smithfield to set the bacon-eating world record," said Matt Stonie. "As one of the youngest competitive eaters on the circuit, I'm always looking to push myself so I aimed to eat 150 slices, but when I passed that and got to 182 slices, I knew it must be because I'm fueled by bacon!"

Racing fans at the track can get in on the bacon-eating action all season long with the Smithfield Pig Out Chase where contestants will be able to test their competitive eating skills with fan favorites such as Smithfield bacon, ribs and BBQ. In addition to winning a trip to compete at Homestead to culminate the Smithfield Pig Out Chase, the winner of each eating contest will receive a stock-car ride-along courtesy of Richard Petty Driving Experience. The victor at the Smithfield Pig Out Chase finale at Homestead will win a trip to the 2016 Daytona 500 and a Richard Petty-autographed fire suit. For more information on how to get involved, please visit www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield.

Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield

A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the "Ham Capital of the World." From hand-trimmed bacon to slow-smoked holiday hams, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, and fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the Unites States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield's products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. The company is a brand of Smithfield Farmland, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield.

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield^®, Eckrich^®, Farmland^®, Armour^®, Cook's^®, Gwaltney^®, John Morrell^®, Kretschmar^®, Curly's^®, Carando^®, Margherita^® and Healthy Ones^®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and www.smithfieldcommitments.com

About Richard Petty Motorsports

A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneur Andrew Murstein, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. With a history of over 200 wins and business partnerships with national and global leaders, today the race operation fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion with primary partners Smithfield Foods, U.S. Air Force, STP, Strike Ten Entertainment and Fresh From Florida, and Sam Hornish Jr. drives the No. 9 machine with primary partner Twisted Tea. In addition, Dakoda Armstrong wheels the No. 43 WinField Ford Mustang full-time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C.

About Major League Eating

Major League Eating (MLE), the world governing body of all stomach-centric sports, conducts more than 80 events annually, including the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y. The competitive eating community is made up of more than 8,000 veteran and rookie gurgitators who travel the nation in search of top titles and the glory that they provide. For more information, visit www.IFOCE.com, www.facebook.com/eatfast or twitter @eatingcontest.

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