Competitive eater Matt Stonie crams pepperoni rolls down during the fourth annual Pepperoni Roll-Eating World Championship last year. He hopes to defend his title during Saturday’s competition during the West Virginia Three Rivers Festival.
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Matt Stonie wasn’t quite sure what to expect as he prepared to bite into one of West Virginia’s famous treats.
The somewhat lumpy, light-brown pepperoni rolls looked unfamiliar and foreign to the California resident in the plastic bag.
He finally took a bite and gobbled it down. Then he ate another. And another.
After all, if he was going to consume more than 30 of them in 10 minutes the following day he had to be prepared.
Stonie is not new to the sport of competitive eating.
This 22-year-old hopes to defend his title this year at the fifth annual Pepperoni Roll-Eating World Championship at the West Virginia Three Rivers Festival. This Major League Eating-sanctioned event will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Stonie not only wants to beat his record by wolfing down 31 pepperoni rolls, but he also aspires to set a new world record…
