Somewhere in the world, a group of Marines is already plotting their revenge!

On Sept. 12, the Army drove off with the overall title at the Rally4Vets/DVEN 6th Annual Top Dog Championship, piling up 66 points in the event’s first-ever visit to Dominion Raceway.

picture of the Army team that won the Tod Dog trophy at the 2026 Rally4Vets Top Dog Championship

         The Winning Army Team – with Service Dog Woody (right foreground)

The Marine Corps, the 2925 champions, kept the heat on all day and finished second with 45 points. The Air Force rounded out the podium in third. Seven service teams showed up for bragging rights, and every one of them was really racing for the same thing: awareness of veterans’ issues and funding for service dogs for disabled veterans.

Rivals on the Clock, Allies in the Paddock
The Top Dog time trial format puts novice and seasoned drivers on the track in separate groups with 30 seconds between each car, running timed laps in their own cars. Drivers compete in classes matched to their vehicle capabilities and driving experience, earning points for their service while chasing individual Top Dog honors.

The stakes were real, and so was the trash talk. But this is the kind of rivalry where the driver you just beat by two tenths of a second is the first one handing you a water bottle when you climb out of the car. That’s the paddock at the Top Dogs.

The Final Scoreboard
Army 66, Marine Corps 45, Air Force 19, Navy 18 (so close, Navy), Space Force 13, and Coast Guard and National Guard with four points apiece.

Across 16 contested classes, Army drivers claimed six individual Top Dog championships. Marine Corps drivers took five, Navy grabbed three, Space Force earned two, and Air Force one. The class winners set the pace, but nobody wins the overall trophy alone. It takes points from drivers all across the grid, which is a pretty good metaphor for how the military works in the first place.

 

A New Home that Fits
Dominion Raceway made one heck of a first impression. The two-mile road course gave drivers a lively challenge, and the paved paddock and clubhouse gave families, volunteers, and supporters a comfortable place to hang out between runs. Just as important, it kept the day welcoming for folks who had never set a tire on a racetrack before. By the time the awards ceremony rolled around, the whole place was buzzing.

Why We Really Do This
The Top Dog Championship is never just about settling who has the fastest branch (though we will absolutely be hearing about it from the Army until next September).  Rally4Vets uses motorsports to bring veterans, active-duty members, military families, and civilian supporters together around a purpose. It’s a place to reconnect, talk openly about the challenges veterans face, and turn camaraderie into something practical – service dogs for veterans. The spectator cheering from the fence, the volunteer keeping the schedule on track, and the sponsor backing a team are all part of the mission.

And the mission has four legs and a wagging tail. Funds raised through Top Dog Championship evets support the Rally4Vets/DVEN service dog program. A trained service dog can help a disabled veteran build independence and daily stability, and the veteran receives that partner at no cost. Training and placing one dog can take nearly two years and cost more than $40,000. That’s why every entry fee, donation, and sponsorship keeps working long after the checkered flag waves.

Mark Your Calendars for 2027
Top Dog returns to Dominion Raceway in September 2027, and the Marines have a full year to prepare their comeback. (Air Force, we see you too.)

Businesses interested in sponsorship can start planning now, whether that means backing a service team, helping underwrite the event, or connecting employees with the mission. Reach out to partner@rally4vets.com to talk options. Event updates are available at rally4vets.com and dven.org.

Seven teams came to Dominion to compete. By the end of the day, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard were one team: standing with our country and with our veteran community.

We drive. They survive.®

Full event details at: https://bit.ly/2026TopDogChampionshipResultsandPhotos