coondog chews up competition

PRESS RELEASE 6/16/05

Contact: Tom Cosentino (732) 970-0399

Gentleman Joe Menchetti Wins First Qualifier in Quick Chek Original Toasted Italian Sub Eating Contest

Bridgewater - (June 16, 2005) - Gentleman Joe Menchetti, holder of numerous competitive eating titles, took a major step toward another one when he won the first qualifier in the Quick Chek Original Toasted Italian Sub Eating Championship Thursday afternoon at the Quick Chek location on Union Avenue in Bridgewater.

Outfitted in tuxedo and top hat, Menchetti topped a field of eight competitors, including his major rival on the competitive eating circuit, Dominic "The Doginator" Cardo. Menchetti ate five Italian subs in the allotted 10 minutes to win the competition. Cardo finished second with 3 3/4 eaten subs, while amateur competitor, Jeremy Moloughney of Sayreville came third with 2 3/4.

The top three finishers qualified for the championship, which will be held July 30 at the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in Readington, NJ.

Menchetti, who is also recognized as the World Beef Tongue Eating Champion, coasted to victory. When asked if he would attempt to eat six Italian subs, Menchetti rose from the table, patted his stomach and replied, "I only eat as much as I need to win."

The 10-minute contest was sanctioned by the Association of Independent Competitive Eaters. Competitors ate as many fully loaded Quick Chek 6" Italian subs as they could in the allotted time. Additional qualifiers will be held at Quick Chek locations in Fairview (June 23) and Hazlet (July 7) to round out the field for the championship.

PRESS RELEASE 6/23/05

Contact: Tom Cosentino (732) 970-0399

COON DOG O’KARMA “CHEWS UP” COMPETITION TO WIN SECOND QUALIFER IN THE QUICK CHEK ORIGINAL TOASTED ITALIAN SUB EATING CONTEST

Fairview – (June 23) – The champion donut and hot chicken wings eater is now well on his way to adding Italian subs to his trophy case. David “Coon Dog” O’Karma, one of the leading competitive eaters in the world, flew all the way in from his home in Akron, Ohio in order to compete in the second qualifier for the Quick Chek Original Toasted Italian Sub Eating Contest held in Fairview on Thursday. His trip was worth it as “Coon Dog” wolfed down 4 1⁄2 of Quick Chek’s Original Toasted Italian six-inch subs in the 10 minute contest time period to defeat 10 other competitors and earn an automatic berth in the championship that will be held July 30 at the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ.

Fellow competitive eater Chris "The American" Schlesinger was second, eating 3 7/8 Italian subs and hometown amateur Pedro Montes of Fairview was close on his heels with 3 2/3 subs finished.

The top three finishers automatically qualified for the championship. They will be joined by Gentleman Joe Menchetti who won the first qualifier at Bridgewater June 16, eating five subs, Dominic “The Doginator” Cardo who was second and amateur Jeremy Moloughney of Sayreville came third with 2 3⁄4.

“The competition will get real serious when we get to the championship at the Quick Chek Festival of Ballooning,” said Coon Dog as he brushed meat from his teeth at the conclusion of the competition. “I’m ready for Gentleman Joe Menchetti and everyone else that qualifies.”

The third and final qualifier to determine the field for the final will be held on Thursday, July 7 at 2 pm at the Quick Chek location on RT 36 in Hazlet.

The Quick Chek Original Toasted Italian Sub Eating Contest is sanctioned by The Association of Independent Competitive Eaters (A.I.C.E.). It is an affiliation of Independent Competitive Eaters and talented contributors who have organized for their mutual benefit. Known as AICE, the organization seeks to create opportunities for its individual Eaters to participate in competitive eating venues in order to promote events, products and charitable causes.

The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, In Association With PNC Bank (July 29-31), is North America’s largest summertime family-oriented celebration of the magic of ballooning, featuring scores of rides and attractions for kids, parents and festivalgoer of all ages. Hot air balloon ascensions with up to 125 sport and special-shape balloons are also scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. wind and weather permitting.

Advance-sale tickets, for Festival admission, costing $17 for adults, and $7 for children 54 inches and under, are available through July 28. Children three years old and under are admitted free. Tickets are available at all Quick Chek Food Stores in New Jersey. Festival and Blue Sky Club tickets can also be obtained by calling toll free 800-HOT-AIR-9 (800-468-2479) or online at www.balloonfestival.com. Festival hours are from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

PRESS RELEASE 7/7/05

Contact: Tom Cosentino (732) 970-0399

MARK “THE HUMAN VACCUM” LYLE WINS THIRD & LAST QUALIFIER IN QUICK CHEK ORIGINAL TOASTED ITALIAN SUB-EATING CONTEST

A Pair of Amateurs Also Earn Berths in Championship To Be Held At Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning on July 30th

Hazlet (July 7, 2005) – Mark “The Human Vacuum” Lyle served notice that he may be the one to beat for the championship when he put away 5 1⁄2 Italian subs to win the third and final qualifier in the Quick Chek Original Toasted Italian Sub Eating Contest held Thursday in Hazlet, New Jersey. The nine man field is now set for the championship which will be held July 30th at 2:30 pm at the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, In Association with PNC Bank, at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ.

Known as perhaps the country’s finest chicken wing eater, Lyle, of Columbus, OH, established a tournament record by eating 5 1⁄2 subs in the 10 minute allotted time limit, breaking the previous mark of five set by Gentleman Joe Menchetti in winning the first qualifier on June 16 in Bridgewater. The competition in Hazlet, which featured 11 participants, saw a pair of amateurs emerge as strong contenders for the final. Ray “Porterhouse” Keanne of Levittown, PA chowed down 4 1⁄2 subs to finish second and Joel “Cannon” Poleski of Laurence Harbor ate 3 1⁄4 subs to finish third and snare the final slot in the championship field.

The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning added this new entertainment component for this year’s annual event, working in conjunction with The Association of Independent Competitive Eaters (AICE).

The top three finishers in each event earned berths into the final. Professional eater Gentleman Joe Menchetti captured the first qualifier in Bridgewater by easily consuming five Quick Chek Original Toasted Italian subs. Fellow competitive eater Dominic “The Doginator” Cardo was second with 3 3⁄4 eaten subs and amateur Jeremy Moloughney of Sayreville was third with 2 3⁄4 eaten subs.

The champion donut and hot chicken wings eater, David “Coon Dog” O’Karma, one of the leading competitive eaters in the world, flew all the way in from his home in Akron, Ohio in order to compete in the second qualifier in Fairview on June 16. His trip was worth it as “Coon Dog” wolfed down 4 1⁄2 of Quick Chek’s Original Toasted Italian six-inch subs in the 10 minute contest time period to defeat 10 other competitors and earn an automatic berth in the championship. Fellow competitive eater Chris "The American" Schlesinger was second, eating 3 7/8 Italian subs and hometown amateur Pedro Montes of Fairview was close on his heels with 3 2/3 subs finished.

Tickets for the 2005 Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning are now available for advance purchase at all Quick Chek Food Stores, providing festival-goers with discounts of up to 30 percent for the annual three-day event which kicks off on Friday, July 29 and continues through Sunday, July 31.

A portion of event proceeds from tickets purchased at Quick Chek Food Stores benefits the Children’s Miracle Network.

The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, located at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ, is North America’s largest summertime family-oriented celebration of the magic of ballooning, featuring scores of rides and attractions for kids, parents and festival-goers of all ages. Hot air balloon ascensions with up to 125 sport and special-shape balloons are scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., wind and weather permitting.