Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 18, 1993                   TAG: 9307180182
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

NASCAR IN THE NEW RIVER? LOOK AGAIN

Yet that's exactly where it appeared to be Saturday - in the New River.

A closer look, however, revealed that it wasn't Wallace's car but a floating reproduction entered in the Radford Riverfest raft race.

Built by a group of Radva Corp. employees, No. 2 came fully equipped with gearshift, steering wheel, roll bar, sponsorship stickers and tires.

The craft - one of 10 entries custom built for the event - won the people's choice and best design awards.

The raft race was one of several events that roughly 1,000 people attended during the fourth annual Riverfest at Bisset Park. There also was a barbecue cook-off, food and craft booths and four bands.

The event grew out of the raft race, which still is the most popular attraction.

In addition to the stock car raft, Radva sponsored three other entries in the race. One of the most interesting and winner of the "I can't believe it floats" award was a one-person, wheel-shaped paddled raft piloted by Bill Fry.

Unlike last Sunday when Wallace won the Winston Cup race in New Hampshire, the Pontiac raft captured no honors for speed. The fastest craft award went to another Radva-sponsored boat, called Thermastructure's Finest.

"We went more for design than speed," said Rick Dishon, captain of the stock car raft team. "We tried to stay just as true to Rusty's car as we possibly could."

There's one small exception. Instead of Goodyear, the right rear tire reads "Goodrear."

It was done for fun - just to see who noticed, said Jeff Kirk, the car's designer.

Dishon, an avid Wallace fan, said work on the car began in April and took about 200 hours to complete.

"It was an incredible effort by a great group of people," he said. Made of expandable polystyrene, the raft cost about $350.

The stock car raft sent murmurs through the crowd when it rolled into Bisset Park.

"Is Rusty Wallace going to be here?" shouted one young race fan.

Fearing it would be damaged, Dishon removed the car's roof, steering wheel and gear shift before setting it afloat.

It took five men to paddle the 350-pound raft down the quarter-mile raceway.

The car received a few dents and scratches during the race, a familiar sight to Wallace fans.

"We're going to rebuild," Dishon said. "Anyone who follows racing knows Rusty Wallace's car has looked like this quite a few times this year."