Eater X Takes Hartford

Tim Janus rocked the Hartford qualifier, his home town, with 27.5 HDB on Saturday. He's down on himself, but between setting the grilled cheese world record this month, snagging this qualifier, and defending his shoe fly pie title in June, we wonder if he's just not giving himself enough credit. Tim talked to Digest and was kind enough to answer a few questions about his win.

Give us a down and dirty quicky of the event.

It was a fuller field than I had expected. Don Lerman, Pat Philbin, and Krazy Kevin were there. I was very happy to see Don because I'm a big Don Lerman fan. (Don and Charles were the the first two eaters to welcome me to my very first contest two years ago.) And "Black Tie" Stobierski was there. He's a very talented Connecticut eater. He held the Doodle Burger twice, and I've seen him at the CT Qualifier every year I've attended.

We had a better attendance than in previous years. The crowd was loud and supportive, and a whole bunch of my family and friends showed up to cheer for me. Honestly, I got a huge kick out of seeing the look on their faces as they listened to and laughed at Rich's commentary. I spent a good five minutes watching them enjoy themselves as Rich was introducing us. I'm glad that I believe that they'd have enjoyed themselves without me. It means at least as much to me as seeing them enjoy just watching me eat.

I won the qualifier with 27.5, but I'm not very happy. I can do more, and it's killing me that I didn't.

Pat Philbin upped his personal best to 25. That guy improves by 5 at every qualifier. Christ!

I have no idea how many anybody else ate.

I thank Rich for playing "The Power of Love" during my introduction. And I have no idea how or why I came to hold the microphone after the contest. I may have screwed things up a bit, but I did my best to thank everybody, especially my mom and my best friends, The Batchman and Joe Donahoe.

Describe the moment when you knew you were going to win.

Shit. Here comes my jerk comment: Honestly, I believed I'd win once I knew I had the lead. I've got a ton more hot dogs in me if I can ever figure out to get them down. Whenever I have a lead, I'm very comfortable.

I was a lot more relaxed this year than I was last year. I had more confidence, and I'd learned not to spaz internally before the contest. In the 30 or 40 minutes before we started, I tried to enjoy the scene as much as possible. And I kept playing "Tangerine" on my iPod because it makes my heart beat slowly. I like to feel quiet. It's my natural state.

Any comments on your training?

I prayed to the God of Thunder because he's friends with the God of Hot Dogs. No comments on my training. Too many trade secrets have been given away. Time to circle the wagons. (Are the rest of you guys listening?)

Tell us something funny, or unusual that happened during this qualifier.

Our hot dogs had cooled substantially by the time they were served, and they cooled even more when the heavens opened up on us three minutes into the contest. It's never rained on me at a contest before, and despite what you might think, it doesn't get rid of the need to dunk.

Any controversy before, during, or after?

No controversies. None.

Any predictions about future qualifiers or your chance on July 4th?

Can I win on the 4th? Um, let's change the subject.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Joey Chestnut is NOT The Messenger! The Messenger exists only in our minds, kind of like Time. Joey's my friend.

Last question:

I have big plans for myself if I can ever figure out how to fly. Invisibility? No. I'd much rather fly.