Preview of Steve's

2011 Chow Down for Charity Hot Dog Eating Contest

Steve's Snappin' Dogs Hosts 4th Annual Chow Down for Charity
Hot Dog Eating Contest in Celebration of National Hot Dog Month

July is National Hot Dog Month. In honor of the occasion, Steve's Snappin' Dogs (3525 East Colfax Avenue) will host its annual Chow Down for Charity hot dog eating contest this Sunday, July 31st starting at 1:00 pm. The event will feature the top eight contestants who qualified throughout the year. The group, known as the "Elite Ate", will be given eight minutes to chow down as many hot dogs as they can. The winner receives a cash prize, trophy and is crowned "Top Dog" of the year. Two-time winner and contest record holder for most hot dogs consumed in the contest, Jimmy Mares, will be competing for a perfect trifecta this year and will compete alongside other contest perennials, Andrew Lane and Mark Sutherberg who respectively placed second and third in last year's contest.

Newcomer Dominic Doan of Arvada receives an automatic bid to the finals after winning Steve's hot dog eating contest qualifiers at A Taste of Colorado last September. Doan successfully beat out Lane and Sutherberg at those contests which adds to speculation on whether Doan can beat the heavily-favored Mares at Sunday's finals. Whether it is Mares, Doan, Lane, Sutherberg or one of the other contestants, this year's chow down offers to be a competitive one.

Now in its fourth year, the contest is the brainchild of Steve's Ballas, the owner and operator of Steve's Snappin' Dogs. Ballas was simply looking to develop a new and exciting way to raise money for his favorite charity - Project Angel Heart. His Chow Down for Charity concept has grown and through this and other fund raising efforts, Ballas has successfully helped raise over $7.000 for the charity. A total of 25% of the sales and a portion of entry fee will directly benefit Project Angel Heart from Sunday's event.

The highly visual event is free, open to the general public and will take place at Steve's Snappin' Dogs on 3525 East Colfax Ave (@Monroe) In Denver.

The contestants:

Jimmy Mares - Defending Champ and 2 time winner
Andrew Lane - Second Place 2010
Mark Sutherberg - Third Place 2010
Dominique Doan - Winner of A Taste of Colorado
Sean Jensen - New this year
Daniel Sanders - New this year
Michael Henderson Jr. - New this year
My Vongphachanh - New this year

Alternates

Ben Handwerker - New this year
Tiger Kim - New this year
Gene Edwards - New this year