Watch Fiery Redd Chase a World Record at the Benton County Fair

If Fiery Redd is still eating after three minutes and four seconds, the record survives. If he’s finished all 25 Carolina Reapers, the Benton County Fair crowd may have witnessed a new record.

Steve “Fiery Redd” Curgan will make his attempt at 5 p.m. Friday, September 25, on the fair’s opening night. The current Guinness World Records time is 3 minutes, 3.53 seconds, set by Canadian pepper eater Mike Jack in August. That’s more than a minute faster than the previous mark printed in this year’s fair guide.

From Walmart Engineer to Competitive Pepper Eater

By day, Curgan works in engineering and automation for Walmart. Outside work, he competes as Fiery Redd, traveling to pepper-eating events and sharing spicy-food challenges online. He’s also developed his own hot sauce.

The fair’s 2026 guide says he was a fan of hot food before competitive eating took him further. Now he’s a member of the League of Fire, an international competitive eating league, and has taken part in events in the U.S. and abroad.

Why take on 25 Carolina Reapers in front of a fair crowd? “Just to prove to myself that I can,” Curgan told the guide.

Make an Opening Night of It

The fairgrounds open at 4 p.m., giving you an hour to get in before the attempt. School of Rock performs at 6:30 p.m., and the carnival runs that evening. Friday admission is $15 and includes rides.

Come for the record attempt. Stay for the music, rides, and fair food afterward.

📆 Friday, September 25 | Record attempt at 5 p.m.
📍 Benton County Fairgrounds
💵 $15 admission; rides included
ℹ️ Full fair schedule

See you out there, NWA.