For years, the defining challenge of the Big Ten Fan Fest eating contest was the fiery, nose-tingling punch of St. Elmo’s shrimp cocktail. This year, the competition is undergoing a seismic — and saucier — shift. The event is trading shrimp for wings, pivoting to a showdown over Ale Emporium’s world-famous Hermanaki wings.

The change marks a new chapter for one of the weekend’s most anticipated fan attractions. Accordingly, the world’s top-ranked competitive eater, Indiana’s own Joey Chestnut, is refining his legendary strategy.

“Wings are a technique food,” Chestnut said in an interview with the Indianapolis Recorder. “For cocktail sauce, I kind of close my eyes and just grab and swallow. For this one, I have to keep my eyes open and strategize.”

From fiery pain to technical savvy

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