Your Top Dog Drivers
The Top Dog Championships are special—and so are our participants. The Top Dog Championships are the only inter-service motorsports competition in the world. It's like the annual Army-Navy football rivalry but played out on a motorsport racetrack, with all the military services able to participate.
The drivers who come to form their service teams and compete are just as special. Some are experienced drivers. For others, it's their very first time on a racetrack. They come together as a band of brothers in a spirit of camaraderie to compete against each other for bragging rights, to have their service inscribed on the Top Dog trophy but, most of all to support America's disabled veteran community. In the words of Jonan Fichera, "One Team. One Fight!" We couldn't say it better.
We are honored to showcase some of these men and women.
Hooah!
Jonan Fichera, Navy
Driver Spotlight
Driver: Jonan Fichera @subie_figgs
Team: Navy
What is the make/model of the car that you'll be racing at Summit Point? Subaru WRX/STi.
What motivated you to sign-up for Rally4Vets? I’ve been wanting to get into High Performance Driving Events (HPDE), so when a sailor I served with, who lives in Maryland, told me about the event, it seemed perfect for both timing and the fact that the focus of the event is the worthy cause of preventing veteran suicide.
What is your favorite meal of all time? My favorite meal of all time would have to be a BBQ meat platter: moist brisket with baby back ribs, armadillo eggs, shotgun shells, pig shots, all meats & cheeses…and maybe some Metamucil to wash it all down.
What is your favorite part about motorsports? My favorite thing about motorsports is the passion people have for hands-on tinkering with their vehicles, combined with problem-solving and information sharing, as well as the sense of community amongst those with like brands, (Mustang owners, BMW owners, 350/370Z owners, Subaru owners, etc).
Which Service team is going to win the 2024 Top Dog Championships? Navy!
Anything you would like to say to the competition? Of course, The Navy will be winning the Top Dog Championship…we may even give a few Marines a ride along the way. I’m not worried about the Air Force since their heads are in the clouds, and we will definitely be bringing the Space Force folks back down to earth. The Army will be too busy looking for the other lever to steer their tanks to be much of a threat. The Coast Guard will be too busy looking for channel markers and buoys to know when to brake/turn into corners. I think the Public Health Service is too risk-averse, so their caution will result in slower lap times, and the weather guessers will be too focused on wet bulb temperatures, dew point, and pressure altitude to realize they are falling behind the pack! But seriously, I love them all and look forward to a spirited day of driving! One team, one fight!
Randy Lizardo, Army
Driver Spotlight
Driver: Randy Lizardo @rondyliz
Team: Army
What is the make and model of the car you'll be racing at Summit Point? McLaren GT
What motivated you to sign-up for Rally4Vets? My mother, Dr. Loreto Lizardo, was a Captain in the Army Reserve as a psychiatrist who helped with the repatriation of Vets during Desert Storm in the 80s, and my brother-in-law, Dr. Jude Escaño, is the former Chairman of Anesthesia of the VA Hospital in East Orange New Jersey. He also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Major in the Army and while in Afghanistan, he took care of POW’s.
What is your favorite meal of all time? 2 slices of pepperoni pizza and a raspberry Snapple Ice Tea from Roma Pizza in Watchung, NJ.
What's your favorite part about motorsports? Getting into the zone where you are able to forget about everything else in the world around you. You try to become one with the car and focus on how it interacts with the road.
Which service team is going to win the 2024 Top Dog Championships? Army!
Anything you would like to say to the competition? In 2024, Team Army will be driving away with the Top Dog Championship and I want to help make that happen. People can talk as much as they want, but in the end, it’ll come down to the man in the arena.
Jeffrey Crosbie
Driver Spotlight
Driver: Jeffrey Crosbie
Team: Army
What is the make/model of the car that you'll be racing at Summit Point? I'll be driving a 2020 S550 Ford Mustang
What motivated you to sign-up for Rally4Vets? I've been participating in time attack racing in the Southwest U.S. for the past couple of years, but work moved me up to Maryland this summer. Being a track junkie, I instantly started looking for local events to participate in. Being Active Duty Army, Rally4Vets came up on a Google search, the mission is something I can easily identify wjth, and the rest was history at that point.
What is your favorite meal of all time? Great question. While there are so many great choices, I will always choose comfort/soul food. A well-made meatloaf or braised shortribs with mashed potatoes will always be my choice.
What is your favorite part about motorsports? Without a doubt, the idea of “chasing the perfect lap,” combined with the building process of a car, is why I do what I do. Having a goal for a car, working towards that goal over a period of time, then after getting that car ready to go on track…figuring out how to extract that performance as a driver…that's the best part.
To me, it's like golf. No matter how good you get, you are always improving and always chasing that slightly better line.
Which Service is going to win the 2024 Top Dog Championships? Army!
Anything you would like to say about the competition? 100% Army through and through. I wish the other services the best competing for 2nd place. Go Army, Beat Navy (and everyone else)!
David Valeri, Space Force
Driver Spotlight
Driver: David Valeri
Team: Space Force
What is the make and model of the car you'll be racing at Summit Point? Porsche 911 Turbo
What motivated you to sign-up for Rally4Vets? Giving back to those who served, meeting some cool people, and seeing some cool cars.
What is your favorite meal of all time? I can't choose between Chicken Tikka Masala and steamed Blue Crabs covered in Old Bay seasoning
What's your favorite part about motorsports? I love activities that require complete focus. The adrenaline is pretty cool too.
Which service team is going to win the 2024 Top Dog Championships? Doesn't Army always win?
Jeffrey Crosbie
Driver Spotlight
Driver: Johnathan Boyle
Team: Marine Corps
What is the make/model of the car that you'll be racing at Summit Point? Ford Mustang
What motivated you to sign-up for Rally4Vets? I love racing and this is a good way to test the waters. Plus, the people are all related to the military so it's familiar people and mannerisms vs. the regular everyday civilians.
What is your favorite meal of all time? Cheesesteak subs definitely but the ingredients vary depending on the day.
What is your favorite part about motorsports? There's just something about the perfect line, feeling the weight of the car shift as you push it to its limits and you're just a fraction of a second off the next guy. It's much more than straight line racing and it takes more skill and i want to challenge every ounce of mine.
Which Service is going to win the 2024 Top Dog Championships?
Anything you would like to say about the competition? I'm definitely not biased being a Marine but I have to pick the jarheads.
Joshuah Torres, Air Force
Driver Spotlight
Driver: Joshuah Torres
Team: Air Force
What is the make and model of the car you'll be racing at Summit Point? 1994 Acura Integra GSR
What motivated you to sign-up for Rally4Vets? It’s a great event for a great cause supporting veterans.
What is your favorite meal of all time? Steak and Mashed Potatoes.
What's your favorite part about motorsports? There's nothing like building your car and being on the track with your adrenaline pumping and seeing what you can do.
Which service team is going to win the 2024 Top Dog Championships? The Air Force of course!
Alan Digilio, Navy
Driver Spotlight
Driver: Alan Digilio
Team: Navy
What is the make/model of the car that you'll be racing at Summit Point? She is a dedicated HPDE track car, built to within 95% Spec Boxster standards. NO, we're not taking out the a/c!!
What motivated you to sign-up for Rally4Vets? My motivation for signing up for the Rally4Vets is because, as a vet myself, I support the tremendously worthy mission of preventing vet suicide. I also look forward to making new friends in the community of vet motorsports fans. I am also spreading to word to all my other motorsports friends who I know are interested in participating.
What is your favorite meal of all time? Picking my favorite meal of all time is a tough one! As they used to say in the Navy recruitment ads: "Join the Navy, See the World!" My waistline will attest to all the great meals I've had across (above, under and on) the ocean. But I'd have to say that my wife's homemade mussels marinara and lasagna are the best I've ever had, anywhere! [Editor: Well said, Alan!]
What is your favorite part about motorsports? My favorite parts about motorsports is all the cool people I meet, and, that once in the seat, all other issues, concerns, or troubles unrelated to the task at hand (driving fast and safe) simply melt away.
Which Service is going to win the 2024 Top Dog Championships?
Anything you would like to say about the competition?
Navy! The Navy Team has a need. The need for speed!
I🎼 I don't know but it's been said, Air Force wings are made of lead.🎼
🎼 I don't know but I've been told, Navy wings are made of gold! 🎼