By Karen Blackledge
The Daily Item
DANVILLE — Saturday's winner tied the all-time record of the annual Pappas Restaurant Hot-Dog Eating Contest.
Justin Reinaker, of Danville, downed 12 wieners and buns in 5 minutes on a hot Saturday afternoon.
The 19-year-old Bloomsburg University student said he said he had no secret to winning in his first shot at the contest, held during the Iron Heritage Festival on Mill Street.
"Just dippin' 'em," he said of dipping the hot dogs and buns in water before chomping them down.
He didn't do any special training either, but admitted he usually eats a lot.
A nursing student, Reinaker will be a sophomore this fall at BU.
As winner, he received a gold and red trophy with a champion statue on top and a $25 gift certificate to Pappas Restaurant.
Reinaker competed among 10 other contestants including Northumberland County Commissioner Kurt Masser who is running for the 107th Legislative District. Masser was able to finish off 4 and a half hot dogs and buns. "I'm a lightweight," he quipped.
Also competing were two girls — Ashley Cobaugh and Morgan Yagel, both of Danville.
Other contestants included Ronnie Bogart of Danville, Devin Hearl of Riverside, Mark Leichenfield of Danville, James Moser of Selinsgrove, Justin Sarbak who was visiting relatives in the area and is from North Carolina, and Thomas Powell Jr. of Milton.
Before the contest, Mary Jane Six, organizer and one of Pappas owners, announced to the crowd this was the eighth year for the event.
Gary Cooper had been the record holder, eating 12 hot-dogs and buns. He had lived in Danville but moved out of state.
Pitchers of water were provided on the table for dipping the buns and wieners.
"You can put ketchup and mustard on your dogs," Six said through her megaphone before the eating started.
"I like to say this is the most exciting 5 minutes of sports in Danville in July," she said.
The crowd counted down the last 10 seconds of contestants stuffing their mouths.
Mike "Doc" Barsh served as timekeeper.
In the Coney Island Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog-Eating Contest, Joey Chestnut downed 54 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in oppressive heat to win $10,000. He won his fourth straight title July 4.
n E-mail comments to kblackledge@dailyitem.com.
