Chrysler Joins ARCA: Racing LeBarons in 1989
Based on an article by Dave Emanuel which appeared in High Performance Mopar in 1989.
In 1989, Chrysler briefly returned to stock car racing, using the Chrysler LeBaron for oval track competition at Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) races. Jerry Churchill, an experienced ARCA racer, fielded a LeBaron whose chassis was built by Norm Negre, and whose engine was a 355 cubic inch Nestled between the framerails is a 355 cubic inch "LA" engine built by Arrow Racing Engines. Putting the power to the ground is a GM Super T10 transmission, witih a special bellhousing designed by Mike Powell to allow it to match the Chrysler block. Louis Duncan worked on aerodynamics, coming up with a fiberglass front end that looked like the standard LeBaron's but was more efficient. Even in its first checkout runs, the car recorded lap speeds of over 160 mph.
The engine, as it was first set up, had:
- A bore and stroke of 4.04 x 3.46
- Mopar Performance race block with Diamond pistons, Carillo rods, Keith Black billet crankshaft
- Fluidampr vibration damper, Reed roller camshaft
- W-2 (iron) or W-5 (aluminum) Mopar heads with Mopar Performance intake manifold
- 2.08" intake, 1.60" exhaust valves
- Modified Holley carburetor
- Weaver three-stage dry sump pump
Mopar Performance made many oval-track parts available, including a machined block with semi-finished bores, forged camshaft, W-2 and W-5 heads, aluminum intake manifold, electronic ignition, and dry sump oil pan.
Churchill's Chrysler LeBaron was successful in ARCA, and Mopar cars remained through the 1998 season. Mopar driver Roy Payne won rookie of the year and finished in the top ten for points. Bob Keselowski's LeBaron was second in points one year. Roger Blackstock won a number of races in an Avenger.
