McMurray, McCall Confused on Kansas Black Flag

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Neither Jamie McMurray or his crew chief, Matt McCall, had any answers.

The confusion? A black flag on Lap 30 after NASCAR officials deemed the No. 1 McDonald’s team had made unapproved adjustments to the body of the car.

McMurray, who started 21st, was penalized following his first pit stop and ultimately finished 26th after spending much of the night outside the top 25 after losing two laps under green. When he pitted, Chip Ganassi Racing crew members had to take the right side window off and reach inside the car to knock the body back into place.

Although McCall argued with NASCAR officials, he got nowhere.

“I guess they called us back in for body modification or something,” McCall said. “The Jackman hit the door when he went for the tire, so I don’t know. It’s interesting to me how they enforce stuff.”

Prior to the start of the 2015 season, NASCAR announced they would be monitoring pit stops through high definition cameras instead of officials being designated to each stall. It puts teams under a watchful eye when it comes to going over the wall too early, uncontrolled tires, or team members trying to modify the car’s body.

According to McCall, he was just as confused as anyone else as to why his team was penalized.

“Was nothing planned,” he said. “Then they bring you down pit road, and they don’t know what to tell you to fix. It is what it is. It’s over with now.”

McMurray does hold a spot on the Chase Grid with 15 races remaining in the regular season.

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