TRENTON- A Trenton staple was feted Friday night, as the Thunder hosted New Hampshire in the first of a three-game set. Case's Pork Roll had its 2016 Pork Roll Celebration, complete with an eating contest, the winner of which advanced to The Trenton Thunder World Famous Case's Pork Roll Eating Contest, to be held at ARM & HAMMER Park...
Dmitry Shchupak ate eight pork roll sandwiches, to win the 2016 Pork Roll Celebration. TRENTON- A Trenton staple was feted Friday night, as the Thunder hosted New Hampshire in the first of a three-game set.
Case's Pork Roll had its 2016 Pork Roll Celebration, complete with an eating contest, the winner of which advanced to The Trenton Thunder World Famous Case's Pork Roll Eating Contest, to be held at ARM & HAMMER Park September 24.
With both the winner of the 2015 Pork Roll Celebration contest, Carmen Cincotti, and 2015 eating contest winner, Joey Chestnut, in attendance Friday, it was a time to commemorate a home-town favorite food.
But it was a night for Dmitry Shchupak, who devoured eight sandwiches, to earn a chance to go up against two of the two four ranked competitive eaters in the world.
"This is the first time I did pork roll man," 31-year old Shchupak said. "I had never done it before. I thought it was going to be a little easier than it was. It is harder to chew through, and the bread kind of fell apart when I dunked it in the water. It was hard to eat, because it was mushy."
"I have been doing it for the past five years, but I am not on Carmen's level," Shchupak said. "I have done the Wing Bowl five times, but I really do it as a hobby, because I am not too bad at it."
"This is the first time I have ever seen Joey in person," Shchupak said. "That was one of the main reasons I came up here, to met him. I have met almost everyone who is up there, but I rally wanted to meet him."
Carmen Cincotti, the "Face of Case's" meets with Slice, the Pork Roll mascot, on the field before the Thunder game with New Hampshire. For the two professional eaters, it was a chance to sit back and enjoy an eating contest from the other side of the table. Especially for the world's fourth ranked competitive eater Cincotti, who is New Jersey-born and resides in East Windsor.
"I thought it was awesome," Cincotti, the "Face of Case's," said. "When you sign up to do this kind of stuff, you really don't watch it. You are doing it. To watch someone else do it, especially in an event that I won last year, was kind of fun. I was cheering him on."
"These kind of events are awesome," Cincotti said. "Tom Dolan of Case's Pork Roll has been unbelievable, for sure. He treated us out to all of this stuff."
"Winning the contest, and doing really well at the contest is awesome," Cincotti said. "But these types of things, taking it easy, and hanging out, is another reward for all the hard work we have done."
It was the world's number one, who ate 32 sandwiches last year, that was the star of the show with the fans. Some say you have not made it until you get your own bobblehead figurine . Well, after Friday night, Chestnut can now cross that off his ever-growing list of impressive feats.
"It is a little bit weird," Chestnut said. "Usually, I am eating. When they start that countdown, I am always getting ready to eat. It was weird watching them eat, and eat so slow. I always watch myself and think I am going slow, but when you are doing it, it feels like you are going ridiculously fast."
Chestnut will defend his title on September 24, and after eating 70 hot dogs at the Nathan's Eating Contest July 4, any number is possible.
"I am always trying to win," Chestnut said. "Last year, I wasn't able to do any practice before the event. This year I will be able to practice, and I always do better when I can get some practice and I know what I am getting into. I am pretty confident I can do better."
"I am pretty sure I can eat 40," Chestnut said. "It is just like anything, If you are not focused on it, it can go away from you. I took some time away, so this next week I will have to hit it really hard. If you are getting ready for a contest, you really have to focus on the one at hand."
"During the summer, my schedule is so loaded, that you have can't do your best each tournament," Chestnut said. "But for the Fourth of July, I will clear my schedule before hand. You pick and choose the major ones, but I love doing it. Usually I can do enough of a showing to win."
For Case's President Tom Dolan, whose company has become a major sponsor for the Thunder, it was just another way to get involved.
"We started off small, and every year, we want to get bigger and bigger," Dolan. "They are going to have the All-Star Game in 2018, and we are hoping to be a big sponsor there, for the home run derby."
"It is awesome, having Joey and Carmen here," Dolan said. "It makes for a big presence here. It makes for a fun night, and the bobblehead is part of it. We flew Joey out here because of that. We wanted to make it extra-special, having him here, and with the bobblehead, it would have been different if he wasn't here personally. We appreciate him being here, because it was a big part of the day."
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean