AUSTIN, Texas — Joey Chestnut will be eating hot dogs this Fourth of July after all. The world-renowned hot dog eating champion is taking his talents to El Paso.

Chestnut will compete against soldiers from Fort Bliss at the annual Pop Goes the Fort Independence Day celebration on July 4 at Biggs Park.

In a post on X, formally known as Twitter, Fort Bliss asked Chestnut if he’d like to join them this year.

“Soldiers at Fort Bliss heard you might be looking for a place to eat on July 4th. We would love to invite you to our Pop Goes the Fort July 4th Celebration to celebrate with our troops and see if you can take on some of our Soldiers in a hot dog eating contest!”

“ABSOLUTLEY!!!” Chestnut replied.

Major League Eating announced earlier this month Chestnut would not be competing in the Nathans’ Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, after signing a deal with a plant-based hot dog company.

Chestnut said in a statement on Instagram that he was “disappointed” to learn that he was “banned” from the contest.

The 16-time hot dog eating champion has been competing since 2005 and hasn’t lost since 2015.

At last year’s event, he chowed down 62 hot dogs and buns within 10 minutes. In 2021, he hit his high score of eating 76 hot dogs and buns.