Contestants down dogs for trip to Coney Islan

Matteson Contest winner eats 31 franks in 10 minutes

As the clocks neared 10 minutes, two young men on Saturday chewed their way closer to a trip to Coney Island.

Chicagoan Tim "Gravy" Brown, who took 13th at last year's Fourth of July competition, and Minnesota resident Patrick Vandam were neck and neck, up to their elbows in hot dogs, keeping their eyes on the prize - a spot in the July 4, ESPN-televised Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in New York.

Vandam, a 5-foot, 10-inch, 160-pound rookie, was crowned the regional champ after devouring 31 hot dogs in the contest held in the Sam's Club parking lot in Matteson.

In a close second, Brown, at 6 feet and 200 pounds, downed 281/2 hot dogs.

Their styles were similar. Both men removed the hot dogs from their buns, gnawed away at them two at a time, then dunked the Wonder Bread buns in liquid.

"What's my strategy? Aside from eating as fast as I can, that's about it," said Vandam, who danced between plates. "I'm not a good dancer by nature."

The smallest of 12 contestants, Vandam guessed he gained about eight pounds by the end of the competition - full of beef, bread and water.

"I'm not in a hurry to go eat anything else," he said, before leaving with his trophy. "I've never been to Coney Island. But people say it's quite a trip."

Brown's arms were stained with the remnants of his choice drinks: orange and raspberry Crystal Light.

"I'm doing all right," he said. "I have a little lead in my gut right now, but it was a lot of fun. This is a great group of guys."

He listened to M.I.A. and Zoinks! on headphones to tune out the cheering crowd and chewing competitors.

"It's really about focusing," he said. "I need something. As long as it's loud and fast."

Brown, the local favorite, was expected to win. He ate 25 hot dogs in 12 minutes at last year's July Fourth event.

He's devoured 24 sliders in eight minutes and ate 3.76 pounds of turkey in eight minutes for the Spike TV Turkey Bowl in October.

"I do a lot of water training because it's easy," he said. "I'm pushing for 30. I have some stiff competition."

Vandam, who took second place a week earlier in Minnesota by eating 30 franks, was that stiff competition. But Brown hasn't given up yet.

Intent on representing Chicago in Coney Island, Brown will be competing May 31 in Arizona and will travel again to a Texas competition, if necessary.

George Shea, chairman of Major League Eating, which governs the Nathan's Famous contests, said the competition is traveling to Sam's Clubs nationwide as the store chain recently announced its decision to serve Nathan's Famous hot dogs at 570 locations.

He introduced the 12 male competitors who traveled to Matteson from Wisconsin and Minnesota as well as Springfield, Elmhurst, Darien and Chicago.

Shea counted down from 10 minutes, keeping close watch on Brown and Vandam before he and a team of judges announced a winner.

"You all can cheer for Patrick Vandam at the July Fourth competition," he said.

Last year, more than 1.5 million people tuned in to ESPN to watch Joey Chestnut annihilate 66 hot dogs in the 12 minutes, taking the mustard yellow belt from reigning six-time champion Takeru Kobayaski.

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