This might be the most delicious game of chicken ever played.
A year after Wyoming-based Weitzels Wings sold more than 48,000 chicken wings in 24 hours to shatter the world record, the previous record-holder has reclaimed its perch as top chicken wing seller in the coop.
Village Casino in Bemus Point, New York, held the record for 41 years between 1982 and 2023, when Weitzels Wings (aka Double Dubs) knocked it out of the nest, topping the previous record of about 42,000.
Wanting to leave no doubt, Village Casino sold more than 55,700 wings from 5 p.m. Saturday through 5 p.m. Sunday, reclaiming the record and bragging rights.
It was something the folks there started thinking about as soon as Double Dubs took the record during Cheyenne Frontier Days last year.
“We had the record from 1982, then again in 2018 (breaking their own record), and I know they broke it last year, so this was an event we worked all summer to get off the ground,” Village Casino owner Andrew Carlson told Cowboy State Daily.
He also said that while he and his crew enjoy the rivalry and competitive juices fighting for the record sparked, it’s all good-natured and done with no harsh feelings.
“Our event was all community based and we got everyone involved, and it was a great community event,” he said. “The Village Casino has been known for chicken wings for the last 30 years. It’s held the Guinness Book of World Records in 1982, then broke it again in 2018.
“But I would never dare to say that’s our record, it’s anyone’s to fight for. It’s just a lot of fun,” he said.
Craves Competition
Double Dubs owner Trent Weitzel agreed that competition makes everyone involved better, and that he’s a pretty competitive guy.
That’s why while congratulating Village Casino on the new record, Weitzel also has vowed to reclaim it — and decisively.
“Records are made to be broken. That’s why records are there and people go after them,” he said, adding he’s happy for Village Casino.
Nearly 56,000 chicken wings “is pretty awesome,” he added.
But next year during Cheyenne Frontier Days, Weitzel said Double Dubs plans to reclaim the 24-hour sales record in a way that also sends a statement.
“We’re going to go after 75,000,” he said. “We want to do it so bad they won’t want to try to (get the record) back again.
“If I’m trying to do something, I want to do everything to win to where somebody wouldn’t want to go after it again. I think up in the 70,000s would be a good number to reach.”
Not Their First Rodeo
Weitzel also said Double Dubs has the advantage of experience this next time around.
“The first time we went into it not really knowing how to do it,” he said, adding there are significant differences between the Village Casino and his food truck model. “We’re 100% off the grid and don’t have a brick and mortar to go back to. We had to prepare for our generators, the trucks and the water, and a refrigerated truck, then all the wings and sauces.
“This next time I know what I’m getting myself into, and I can make it be bigger and better.”
No matter whether Double Dubs reclaims the record, it also remains the two-time defending Festival Favorite winner at the Buffalo Wing Festival, the Super Bowl of the chicken wing industry.
Greg Johnson can be reached at greg@cowboystatedaily.com.
