Pat Bertoletti crowned hot dog eating champion amid Joey Chestnut's absence

The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest has a new champion, as Pat Bertoletti ate 58 hot dogs.

Bertoletti's victory comes as Americans across the nation are celebrating Independence Day. Thousands of fans descended on Conley Island to watch competitive eaters wolf down as many hot dogs (and buns) as possible in a 10-minute time span during the hot dog eating contest.

However, this year's slate of competitors was noticeably missing one high-profile contestant — 16-time champion Joey Chestnut.