K-Town Connection

Jonny Cannon of CARDIACS Sports & Memorabilia is helping bring a piece of Kannapolis racing history back to Charlotte Motor Speedway. In this special trackside episode of K-Town Connection, Sam Mayer’s No. 41 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet wears pink in tribute to K-2, the car Dale Earnhardt drove early in his NASCAR career, with the Dayvault Tune-Up & Brake Service name on its side.RoughTalkCousins Chris Hughes and Ryan Dayvault walk through the garage, watch the car head toward inspection, and share why this tribute means so much to the Cannon and Dayvault families. It’s a proud connection between Kannapolis, the Earnhardt legacy, and a new generation of racing.David Steele and Chuck Irvin will rejoin the team when K-Town Connection returns to the studio for its fall season premiere.Recorded at Charlotte Motor Speedway.Hosts: Chris Hughes and Ryan DayvaultDo you remember the original pink K-2 car or Dale Earnhardt’s Kannapolis roots? Share your story in the comments, and subscribe for more K-Town connections.

Dawn Evans, owner of Editions Bookstore & Coffee Shop, joins K-Town Connection to share how she helped build a real community hub in downtown Kannapolis starting in 2017 — before the full revitalization boom.From volunteering with Kannapolis Arts and the downtown group, to opening a bookstore and coffee shop on Main Street, expanding into yarn, surviving COVID with a drive-thru, and hosting book crawls, author events, and thousands of visitors, Dawn talks about what it takes to create a welcoming space that locals and out-of-towners keep coming back to.Stop by Editions Bookstore & Coffee Shop in downtown Kannapolis for books, coffee, local authors, yarn, and a genuine community gathering spot. Tell them the cousins at K-Town Connection sent you.Filmed at the historic Dayvault’s Dyno Tune-Up & Brake Service Garage in Kannapolis.📍 Dayvault’s Garage – Kannapolis, NC 🎙️ Hosted by Chris Hughes & David Steele (filling in for Ryan Dayvault)Chapters: 00:00 Cold Open / Hilbish Ford 00:35 Rain Banter, Missing Hosts & Baby Updates 03:53 Welcome to EP 69 – Chris Hughes & David Steele 05:00 Meet Dawn Evans of Editions Bookstore & Coffee Shop 05:39 Opening Editions in Downtown Kannapolis in 2017 07:24 Taking a Chance on Main Street Before the Revitalization Boom 08:41 Drive-Thru, COVID Survival & Nine Years Later 12:47 From Used Books to New Books, Gifts & Local Art 13:18 Building the Yarn Shop by Hand 15:18 Bucky Covington, Local Energy & Foot Traffic 20:24 Book Crawls Drawing Thousands from Across the Region 22:11 Why Dawn Chose Kannapolis After Houston 29:38 Favorite Books & Author Stories 31:13 Sponsored Authors, Onyx Storm Event & Big Releases 34:41 Editions as a True Downtown Kannapolis Anchor 35:40 Knit Nights, Partnerships & Community Space 37:25 Closing Thanks with Dawn Evans 38:51 Carolina Pickleball Club + OutroLike, subscribe, and keep supporting the people and places that make Kannapolis home.

Erin Connor & Erica Earnhardt-Wilson of Spilling the Southern Tea join Ryan Dayvault (back from twins duty!), Chris Hughes, and Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin for Episode 70 of the K-Town Connection.Filmed at the historic Dayvault’s Dyno Garage in Kannapolis, the ladies share how their popular social media brand started in a local coffee shop and grew into a platform highlighting restaurants, small businesses, events, and hidden gems across Kannapolis and Cabarrus County. From positive promotion (never harsh reviews) to the real power of social media for local owners, this episode is packed with community pride, laughs, and local history.Ryan also gives an update on life as a new father of twin girls and the incredible support the family received from the Kannapolis community. Plus stories from The Pub, favorite local spots, and plenty of K-Town nostalgia.Follow Spilling the Southern Tea:Facebook: Spilling the Southern TeaInstagram: @spillingthesouthernteaTikTok: @spillingthesoutherntea00:00 Cold Open – Carolina Pickleball Club00:32 Welcome to Episode 70 & Ryan Dayvault Returns02:10 Fatherhood, Twins & Kannapolis Community Support05:50 Theme Song & Re-Intro at Dayvault’s Garage06:36 Meet Erin Connor & Erica Earnhardt-Wilson08:00 How Spilling the Southern Tea Began at Addition’s Coffee Shop10:45 Showcasing Kannapolis Restaurants & Small Businesses14:15 The Power of Positive Social Media Marketing17:30 Preserving Local History Through Digital Storytelling19:18 Stories from The Pub & Dayvault Family Roots25:00 Local Favorites, Downtown Events & Hidden Gems32:00 Jalapeño Poppers, Pickled Eggs & Pub Nostalgia34:37 How to Find Spilling the Southern Tea Online36:30 Closing Thanks & Banter38:45 Episode Wrap-Up39:17 Hilbish Ford – Your Cabarrus County DestinationGuests:Erin Connor – Spilling the Southern TeaErica Earnhardt-Wilson – Spilling the Southern TeaHosted by:Chris HughesRyan DayvaultChuck “Dr. Dave” IrvinFilmed at the Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Garage – Kannapolis, NCWatch, share, and support the local businesses that make Kannapolis special. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of the K-Town Connection!#Kannapolis #SpillingTheSouthernTea #KTownConnection #CabarrusCounty #SupportLocal

Steve Post (Motor Racing Network / Charlotte Motor Speedway) and Kannapolis motorsports historian Steve Gantt join the Rough Talk Cousins for a deep dive into NASCAR broadcasting history, local racing roots, and the future of the sport — all from Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Garage in K-Town.This episode also marks the official debut of Big Dave’s SportsCenter with David Steele joining the team full-time.Steve Post shares his journey from a young fan in Pennsylvania listening to races on a transistor radio to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in motorsports. He reflects on lessons from legendary broadcasters Barney Hall, Ken Squier, and Eli Gold, plus behind-the-scenes stories from decades on pit road and the charter flights.The conversation pays tribute to two recently lost icons — Ned Jarrett and Kyle Busch — including Jarrett’s strong Kannapolis connections through local mechanics, race teams, and community history. The group also covers the evolution of NASCAR, the next wave of talent coming through Millbridge Speedway, and why Kannapolis remains one of racing’s most important hometowns.Chapters:0:00 Cold Open / Hilbish Ford0:36 Welcome to Historic Dayvault’s Garage – Full House1:56 Big Dave’s SportsCenter Debuts6:32 Episode 71 – Introducing Steve Post & Steve Gantt7:30 How the Two Steves Met at Concord Motorsport Park11:30 Steve Post’s Journey from Pennsylvania to the Booth15:00 Kannapolis Racing Roots & Local TV Memories18:40 Path to Motor Racing Network20:30 Lessons from Barney Hall, Ken Squier & Eli Gold29:00 Flying with Barney Hall & Garage Ethics34:30 Remembering Gentleman Ned Jarrett39:30 Kyle Busch Memories & Lasting Impact44:20 Next Generation at Millbridge Speedway52:00 Kannapolis Pride & Community Connections56:19 Pit Road Pickleball & Funny Road Stories59:00 Closing Thanks1:00:03 Episode 71 in the Books + Carolina Pickleball ClubHosts: Chris Hughes, Ryan Dayvault, Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin & David Steele📍 Recorded at Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Garage – Kannapolis, NCIf you love NASCAR history, Kannapolis stories, and conversations with the people who shaped the sport, this one’s for you. Like, subscribe, and share with a fellow racing fan.Follow K-Town Connection on all platforms and visit ktownconnection.com.

Ava & Aubree Dayvault (the K2 Twins) make their official K-Town Connection debut!In this special mini-episode filmed at Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Garage in Kannapolis, Ryan Dayvault brings his two-month-old twin daughters to the set for the first time. Sporting custom K-Town Connection onesies, Ava and Aubree join the crew for a lighthearted Father’s Day episode full of firsts, laughs, and pure K-Town pride.Cousin Chris Hughes gets his first hold of Aubree (he held Ava the night she was born), the guys talk future hot seats, and Ryan proves he’s already a sub-minute diaper-changing expert. At just over nine pounds each and two minutes apart, the girls already feel right at home in the garage.00:00 Theme Song – K-Town Strong02:05 Cold Open & Little Features for Little People02:48 Meet the K2 Twins – Ava & Aubree Dayvault05:10 Two Months Old, Family Stories & Telling Them Apart09:00 Diaper Changing Expert & Garage Laughs12:30 Happy Father’s Day Closing13:50 Sponsors – Hilbish Ford + Carolina Pickleball Club📍 Filmed at Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Tune-Up & Brake Service Garage in Kannapolis, NC🎙️ Featuring: Chris Hughes • Ryan Dayvault • Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin • David SteeleIf you love local Kannapolis stories, mill-town roots, and real community connection, hit subscribe and turn on notifications. The next generation of K-Town is already in the building.#KTownConnection #Kannapolis #Dayvault #K2Twins

In Episode 78, the K-Town Connection Crew paid a visit to Corner Crust Pizza to learn how they’re using pizza to make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer.This short but powerful episode highlights a great local business supporting an even greater cause. Watch the show, then make a trip to Corner Crust Pizza this month, enjoy a slice, and help support the cause.Local pizza. Local people. A meaningful impact.