World's Top Athletes Head to Dallas for Wingstop World Wing-Eating Championship

RICHARDSON, Texas, Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's top athletes will descend on Dallas on Tuesday, February 1, to compete in one of the year's biggest sporting events: The Wingstop World Wing-Eating Championship. The winner of the 12-minute all-you-can-eat event will take home the lion's share of a $10,000 cash purse.  

The number-one-ranked eater in the world, Joey Chestnut, will compete in the event.  Chestnut, who has consumed 182 wings in 30 minutes in competition, won his fourth consecutive hot dog eating title this past July 4th in Coney Island, New York.  He now looks to open his 2011 Major League Eating season by adding to his legendary body of work.

The event will be held, appropriately, in advance of the Big Game in Dallas, which will be viewed with a platter of wings by many millions. Wingstop believes that the fiercest competition of the day can often be found at the buffet table of the nation's innumerable Big Game parties, and will get a head start on things by cooking up more than 1,000 wings for the competitors on Tuesday evening.

Looking to beat Chestnut will be number-four-ranked Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, a 100-pound wing-eating specialist from Alexandria, Va. Thomas will have confidence on her side in Dallas, having won four consecutive titles at the National Buffalo Wing Festival (2007-10).  Last year she topped Chestnut and a field of 12 other men in Buffalo.

Also competing will be Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti and Bob Shoudt, the number-two and number-three-ranked eaters in the world, respectively. Bertoletti, a mohawked chef from Chicago, holds world records in 29 foods including grits, ice cream and jalapenos. Shoudt, who hails from the suburbs of Philadelphia, was formerly known as "Humble Bob" before embarking on an eight-contest winning streak that resulted in a moniker change to "The Notorious B.O.B."

"Wings stand at the very top of the sport fan's list of food choices," said George Shea, chairman of Major League Eating. "So it makes all the more sense for the world's best eater to pay homage to the mighty wing before the Big Game kicks-off. This event will also provide motivation for all those who view Big Game parties as a competitive eating opportunity themselves."

The 12-minute contest will take place prior to the Dallas Stars hockey game at the AT&T Plaza outside the American Airlines Center. Giveaways and other prizes will be on-hand for the crowd in attendance. The winner will take home the first-place prize of $5,000. The remaining second through six place payouts are as follows: $2,000, $1,500, $750, $500, $250.

"Chicken wings are a staple at football watching parties across the nation," said Jim Flynn, Wingstop CEO. "Wingstop will sell 5 million wings nationwide on Super Sunday alone, and the Wingstop Wing-Eating Championship is a fun way to kick off the week and prep for the Big Game!"

About Wingstop:

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Richardson, Texas, Wingstop has more than 475 restaurants open across the United States and Mexico. With a sole focus on chicken wings, the Wingstop menu features nine wing flavors including Original Hot, Cajun, Atomic, Mild, Teriyaki, Lemon Pepper, Hawaiian, Garlic Parmesan, and Hickory Smoked BBQ. Wings are made fresh, cooked-to-order and customers can also choose from homemade side dishes including Wingstop's award winning fresh-cut seasoned fries. Wingstop has experienced more than seven consecutive years of positive sales increases, received multiple American Business Awards, was crowned Wing King at the National Buffalo Wing Festival and has been voted 'best wings' by outlets across the country. Troy Aikman, three-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Fame quarterback, has served as the chain's national spokesman since 2003. For more information, visit www.wingstop.com.

About Major League Eating:

Major League Eating (MLE), the 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, NY. The competitive eating community, which numbers more than 8,000 veteran and rookie athletes, travels the nation in search of top titles and the glory that they provide.

SOURCE Wingstop