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Hot Dogs Steal the Show at Alburtis Park

Emmaus man who hadn't intended to compete eats his way to $100 and bragging rights for another year.

 
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Crystal Neel can only smile as she watches Steve Santee work on downing another hot dog during the Aug. 19 Hot Dog Eating Contest at Alburtis Park. The two are from Alburtis. Tad Miller
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Crystal Neel can only smile as she watches Steve Santee work on downing another hot dog during the Aug. 19 Hot Dog Eating Contest at Alburtis Park. The two are from Alburtis.
Park operator Jack Stull calls hungry contestants to the table. Eight men and women competed in the 2nd-annual Hot Dog Eating Contest Aug. 19 at Alburtis Park.
Rodney Druckenmiller of Emmaus, the eventual winner in the 2nd-annual Hot Dog Eating Contest at Alburtis Park, is at the stage of the contest when he begins eyeing another hot dog with contempt. Druckenmiller said he did not enter the park intending to participate in the contest. Still, he wolfed down the winning eight hot dogs in 10 minutes to take home the $100 prize.
Park operator Jack Stull attempts to lure more contestants by showing them the bounty of hot dogs.
Hermann Sulderits of Alburtis takes a healthy bite.
Park operator Jack Stull shows the audience the tempting treat.

Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi have little to fear after yesterday.

Their world dominance in hot-dog eating competitions is still safe despite spirited efforts Aug. 19 at the Second-Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest at Alburtis Park.

No one approached the 68 hot dogs and buns that Chestnut ate to win this year's event at Coney Island, but Rodney Druckenmiller of Emmaus led the field of eight yesterday by downing eight dogs and buns in the 10 minutes allotted.

Park operator Jack Stull now offers the event once a summer as a fun, alternative activity. Stull was quite the showman as he encouraged participants to come forward, enticing while waving a hot dog.

It was that kind of jovial banter and just the nature of the gluttony that kept the crowd and contestants alike laughing and having a good time.

Several of the contestants remarked afterward that the event looks much easier than it is and were surprised how relatively few hot dogs they actually ate.

But it was Druckenmiller -- who admitted he hadn't come to the park expecting to participate -- who walked away with the $100 prize.

Related Topics: Alburtis Borough, Alburtis Park, and Hot Dog Eating Contest

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