Lost in the epic Kobayashi-Chestnut battle is the performance of Eric "Badlands" Booker, the No. 7 train conductor who wolfed down 24 1/2 hot dogs Tuesday at Nathan's Famous. Sure, that's fewer than half of Kobayashi's 53 3/4, but Badlands is no competitive-eating slouch. For instance, he's tops when it comes to downing burritos and matzoh balls. And just last month, he came in No. 2 at a ham-biscuit eating contest in Lynchburg, Va. Downing 42, he was bested by Sonya "Black Widow" Thomas, who also shared the stage with Badlands yesterday at Nathan's.
Badlands by the numbers: 
Height: 6’ 4”
Weight: 420 pounds
Hot dogs eaten: 24 1/2
Hometown: Copiague, on Long Island
Web site: www.badlandsbooker.com
Badlands preps himself for the eating contest Tuesday. (AP Photo)
-- Rolando Pujol
