Happy Independence Day America!

There are many traditions associated with the great day that The United States of America became independent of England, from bbq's to fireworks to the flying of the flag; however, one tradition in particular gets international coverage on this day: The Great Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest!

That's right, today at noon ESPN aired the famous International Federation of Competitive Eating's annual Hot Dog Eating contest sponsored by Nathan's World Famous Hot Dogs - featuring the biggest (not literally) names in competitive eating!

But what about other great feats of competitive eating? Here's Beer.com's Top 6 Competitively Eaten Foods!

Pie - Current Champion: "Humble" Bob Shoudt

Pie, the granddaddy of all competitively eaten foods, was first eaten competitively at a Washington D.C. school in 1923, presumably because the children were being fattened up to serve to others.

Since then, pie eating has been a staple of county fairs and high school events across the country, with the fodder ranging from cherry to apple to molasses pies! Competitors aren't always barred from using their hands but most shun the use of their digits for fear of devouring them as ravenously as the pies.

The current record holder is competitive eater "Humble" Bob Shoudt, who managed to shovel down 9.25 pounds of molasses pie in a mere 8 Minutes. Now that's a "Humble" pie.

Chicken Wings - Current Champion: Joey Chestnut

Some of us have a hard enough time eating chicken wings slowly, let along fast. Navigating the bones and fighting back tears from spicy sauces is tough, but some people choke back Buffalo Chicken Wings competitively!

In May of 2007 in Manhattan, New York, TripRewards held a competitive chicken wing eating contest where Joey Chestnut, reigning champion of the IFOCE, gobbled down 7.05 pounds of Buffalo Wings (minus the bones) in 12 minutes.

Despite the choking hazards, chicken wings are one of the most commonly competitively eaten foods in the country. All those chickens running around without wings even think they're delicious.

Glazed Donuts - Current Champion: Eric "Badlands" Booker

Homer Simpson isn't the only one that drools over donuts. Millions of donuts are consumed in America alone each year! When the IFOCE sanctioned a donut eating contest you can be assured that number jumped by a couple thousand!

Techniques for speed-eating donuts varies, from the water-dipping technique that many competitors use to soften the dry breads to a nibble-technique used by the smaller-mouthed Masticators (the official term for a competitive eater!). Most of us know someone from work that would be able to compete, judging from the way they gobble pastries in the break room!

The current champion is Eric "Badlands" Booker, who managed to shovel in a whopping 49 glazed donuts in a mere 8 minutes! My only question is: Did he do it with coffee?

Chicken Nuggets - Current Champion: Matthew Papaynapulous

Whether they're McDonalds or not, these tender little delights are eaten by children all over the world - and here in the US they're eaten competitively! All-white, dark, or "Mystery", the meat's always some form of chicken, breaded and fried. Not the healthiest snack, but when you're pounding them back to win a title who cares if it's going to your thighs?

They come in 6-packs, 12-packs, and 18-packs, but the current champ will take a massive 200-pack to go (with a diet coke). Matthew Papayanopulous, the current record holder, wolfed down 232 Chicken Nuggets in only 6 minutes! Swallowed whole or taken in 2-bites, one's gotta wonder if they're coming out the same way.

Ramen Noodles - Current Champion: Tim Janus a.k.a. Eater X

A Japanese dish, Ramen Noodles are also the dish of choice of many broke college students across the country. These thin noodles in broth are devastated in bowls and cups and now even competitively!

While it's not necessary to drink the broth, the noodles have to go down smooth, and the Masticator formerly known as Eater X, a.k.a. Tim Janus demolished a whopping 10.5 pounds of Ramen Noodles in 8 minutes! How? No, seriously, how?? I've seen students suck back bowls of this stuff pretty fast, but 10.5 pounds? Babies don't weigh that much. That's right; this guy ate a baby's weight in Ramen.

Hot Dogs - Current Champion: Joey Chestnut

The quintessential staple of competitive eating, every year Nathan's hosts its Independence Day Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island, broadcasted by ESPN. People from around the world show up to claim the title, from the petit to the rotund.

Previously dominated by the eating machine from Japan Takeru Kobayashi from 2001 - 2006, the title was reclaimed by American Masticator Joey Chestnut (making his second appearance on our list) in 2007, when he managed to mow down 66 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs in 12 minutes!

Who knows who's going to come out on top this year? You'll have to tune in to ESPN today!