What did Nick Wehry do? Nathan's Hot Dog cheating scandal explored

Following the annual Nathan's Hot Dog competition on July 4, there was a major cheating controversy that shook the Major League Eating circuit. This year's contestant, Nick Wehry, allegedly cheated to increase his score.

Wehry is accused of increasing the number of hot dogs he had consumed and misrepresenting himself as one of the sport's top competitors throughout the competition.

With 58 hot dogs, Pat Bertoletti won the competition, and Wehry came in fourth with 51.75 points.

Washington Posts reported that following the event, Nick Wehry asserted that he did not cheat. However, on Thursday, July 11, after a video of him reportedly touching another competitor's plates after the tournament was over surfaced, he requested that the event supervisor lower his score.

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Nathan's Hot Dog is contest facing controversy as Nick Wehry cheating allegations went viral

Speed eaters compete in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest (Image via Getty)

This year's Nathan's Hot Dog Contest is embroiled in controversy as Nick Wehry, husband of women's division champion Miki Sudo, is accused of cheating. Each competitor receives five hot dogs per plate, and judges determine the winner based on the number of empty plates. The empty plates are counted toward the eater's score, with each plate representing five hot dogs consumed.

This year, Nick Wehry finished fourth on the big day at Coney Island after scarfing down 46.75 hot dogs. However, reports from the NY Post and other sources suggested that on the official Major League Eating results website, that number was increased to 51.75, crediting him with more whole hotdogs than he had consumed.

Two unnamed sources from the Nathan's Hot Dog reportedly revealed to the Post that Wehry employed some cunning hand techniques to increase his hot dog total and move up into the top half of the field. Alleging the same, one of the sources said to the Post-

“100 percent he cheated.”

Furthermore, the same source has reported that on Tuesday, July 9, a video from the competition showed Wehry moving an extra empty plate onto the stack in front of him after it was over. This allegedly moved his score up by five hot dogs and gave the impression that he had eaten five more hot dogs than he actually had.

Tha plate was reportedly of Sean Yeager, who had eaten 38.5 hot dogs and came in seventh out. Later, Yeager stated to USA Today Sports that he would like to wait to comment until someone could provide additional footage of the incident to the authorities.

However, Nick Wehry refuted the accusations. He even texted the Post to deny anything, writing-

“If [Major League Eating] determines I was miscounted then fix my number. My placing did not change if this was the case. I would never want to take a placing or number I didn’t earn. I would never cheat at a contest, regardless of why. People that know me know that.”

Furthermore, in a statement given to The Washington Post on July 11, he claimed-

“Because I did touch another eater’s plates and because this gives the appearance or possibility of impropriety I have asked Major League Eating to adjust my score down.”

Wehry also texted USA Today Sports, saying-

“I asked Sean how many (hot dogs) he got. Said awesome job but it looked like more. Always recount…so we did. All of us at one point or another have been shorted a plate, double plated etc.’’

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Nevertheless, the allegations are yet to be proven and USA Today reported that the authorities who conducted Nathan's Hot Dog are investigating the incident.