Every Fourth of July since 1972, the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest has taken place on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.

This year, American Joey Chestnut goes for his seventh consecutive title. He is one of three 6-time winners of the event.

And guess what- none of them had beards.

The only “competitive eater” of note to compete with any facial hair is  Takeru Kobayashi with a very scant Fu Manchu. Kobayashi also won six titles, but has been locked in a contract dispute since  2009 due to his refusal to sign an exclusive contract with the event’s organizers.

Last year Chestnut ate 68 hot dogs to retain the title. Kobayashi has continually refused to compete and in 2011 said he conducted his own hot dog eating exhibition, claiming to have consumed 69 hot dogs in an “unsanctioned” event.