Outside Texas, Cincinnati is the most chili-crazed city in the United States with more chili parlors per capita and per square mile than any other city in the country. According to the Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau, Cincinnatians consume more than 2 million pounds of chili each year, topped with 850,000 pounds of shredded cheese. No wonder so many people sign up for this contest!

In the contest, twelve people compete against each other in a timed event. The object is to eat as many cheese coneys as possible in three minutes.

Congratulations to Joe LaRue from Northern Kentucky, who took home the 2010 title of Coney Eating Champ, devouring 12 whole cheese coneys! He beat last years champion by two whole coneys. Matt Gates was the runner-up second year in a row with a little more than 11 coneys down.

Grand prize was a $50 gift card to Camp Washington Chili, a t-shirt, and 2010 championship trophy. The eleven runners-up received a $10 Camp Washington Chili gift card and t-shirt.

Special thanks to 2010 presenting sponsor Camp Washington Chili!

Camp Washington Chili is a family-owned business serving authentic Cincinnati-style chili since 1940. The restaurant is located at 3005 Colerain Ave in Camp Washington, just off I-75 at the Hopple Street exit.

The Coney Eating Contest is the second of four "Freaky Friday" events this summer.

Check out some of the 2010 pictures here and watch the video

Click here for photos from 2009.