My secret relish over Joey Chestnut's controversial Nathan's hot dog eating ban - and why my husband is the real wiener

Insiders believe perennial Nathan's hot dog champ Joey Chestnut's controversial ban from this year's contest could be 'good for the sport,' according to a fellow legendary competitive eating champ.

Miki Sudo, a nine-time winner of Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, revealed all to DailyMail.com ahead of the rip-roaring Fourth of July event. 

While she has steamed to victory for the past decade, Miki's husband Nick Wehry - the fourth-ranked professional eater in the world - may have his best chance yet to join her on top of the podium. 

'For the first time, we're going to get to watch five or six people really duke it out for first place,' she said.   

'The first place spot is now not a foregone conclusion... I think we'll really see some "hungry" competitors.' 

Counting down the days before stepping on stage before tens of thousands, Sudo also revealed what it really takes to become a world renowned competitor - and her own record she believes will never be beaten. 

Miki Sudo (left), a nine time champion at the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog eating contest, said perennial winner Joey Chestnut's (right) ban is 'absolutely' good for the sport 

Sudo, pictured as she cruised to victory last year by eating 39.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes, revealed to DailyMail.com what it takes to become a world renowned eater 

Competitive eaters have descended on New York City's Coney Island for the contest since 1972, and are given 10 minutes to eat as many frankfurters and buns as possible. 

Winners scoop a $10,000 cash prize, with Chestnut's record 76 dogs in 2021 remaining unbeaten - just as he has done for 16 of the last 17 years. 

But this year, fans were stunned to see Chestnut disqualified after he offended the event's sponsor by partnering up with a vegan food brand - leaving the 2024 contest 'wide open', Sudo said. 

'This year's contest is slated to be the most exciting of any other year in recent memory,' she said. 

'I think the crowd will see a tight contest that's gonna come down to seconds, and probably fractions of hot dog.' 

Sudo stressed that Chestnut is a 'close friend' who she has known for years, but while she was 'sad to see him go', she believes the ban is 'absolutely' good for the sport. 

'The crowd's really going to get to see the talent that's on the circuit.' 

Ahead of the contest, Sudo offered a glimpse into her preparations, including how she coaches her brain into avoiding 'flavor fatigue.' 

The rip-roaring event is attended up upwards of 30,000 people a year, and is broadcast by ESPN as millions tune in to watch professional eaters gorge on wieners and buns 

Joey Chestnut has won 16 of the last 17 years and holds the world record, set in 2021, of a staggering 76 hot dogs eaten in 10 minutes 

Competitors vie for a $10,000 prize, and Sudo said the loss of Chestnut means this year 'we're going to get to watch five or six people really duke it out for first place' 

'I need my body to enjoy hot dog after hot dog after hot dog, and no matter how much you like a food if you're not used to eating it for an extended time then it becomes unpalatable,' she said. 

'It's to get used to the flavor... but also largely for coordination. If you think of your mouth to your stomach as a kind of conveyor belt, if you don't neatly pack things you'll have blockages.' 

To prep her taste buds, Sudo chows down on dozens of hot dogs around three times a week, giving herself set times to practice her speed and technique. 

'I need to know the hand motions, how much water I'll need, how many cups to set up, that kind of stuff - everything in practice is in preparation for those 10 minutes. 

'My mouth is never crammed full of food, I think that's inefficient... the less full my mouth feels, it doesn't alert my brain that I'm getting full.' 

While many viewers may imagine competitive eaters starve themselves before a contest to build their appetite, Sudo said this is far from anything that she would recommend before a big feast. 

'I wouldn't want to go into a contest starving, because I'd just be exhausted,' she said. 'You have to exert all this energy in 90 degree heat, and if you're tired and weak you're going to struggle for high numbers.' 

Instead, Sudo said she limits her diet before the contest to 'easily digestible' foods such as a protein shake, to keep herself satiated without piling food into her system. 

Sudo is married to the fourth ranked eater in the world Nick Wehry, who she said she practices with when they are not caring for their toddler, Max (pictured together following her 2022 win)

Contrary to popular belief, Sudo said contestants don't starve themselves before the event, which is partially to avoid fatigue when they chow down on the July 4th hot day 

Sudo stressed that Chestnut is a 'close friend' who she has known for years, but while she was 'sad to see him go', she believes the ban is 'absolutely' good for the sport 

She admitted that while she doesn't tend to throw up after a contest, there are other issues that can result from eating thousands of calories of hot dogs within minutes. 

'I feel dehydrated because of the sodium... and the hot dogs themselves don't have much fiber, so your readers can extrapolate from that how they think the aftermath is,' she quipped. 

'It takes me at least four days to fully bounce back and feel like myself again.' 

Sudo said she is not underestimating her rivals as she vies for a tenth straight win at this year's event, but confessed that she still believes one of her own records may never be beaten. 

In 2017, Sudo set a staggering world record for eating ice cream, devouring 16.5 pints in just six minutes. 

'Many people have held that contest many times over, and nobody's come close,' she said.