Kerry Earnhardt & Kyle Lingafelt Preview the 2nd Annual Earnhardt Outdoors Showdown | EP 8

Kerry Earnhardt and Kyle Lingafelt (Old Armor Beer Company) join Chris Hughes and Ryan Dayvault in downtown Kannapolis to preview the 2nd Annual Earnhardt Outdoors Showdown on May 23.

Recorded in the historic WRKB studios / Dayvault’s Garage, this episode digs deep into Earnhardt family roots, Ralph Earnhardt’s legacy, Dale Jr.’s short-track revival, the full day schedule (Coffee with Dad, cars, meet-and-greet, Cody Webb concert), and why this celebration hits different when it happens right here in Kannapolis.

0:00 Cold Open – Darlington Recap & Dale Earnhardt Energy
2:40 Rough Talk: Kannapolis Buzz & Gem Theater Soft Opening
5:13 Theme Song – “This Is My Town”
5:52 Episode 8 Intro with Chris & Ryan
6:11 Kerry Earnhardt & Kyle Lingafelt Join the Studio
7:03 Cannon Mill Brick Coaster, Sun Drop & Old Armor
7:41 2nd Annual Earnhardt Outdoors Showdown – May 23 Revealed
13:20 Ralph Earnhardt, Family Roots & Why This Town Matters
15:28 Coffee with Dad & Full Event Schedule
21:31 Dale Jr.’s Short Track Revival & Lasting Legacy
23:29 Falls Jewelers
24:01 Back with the Guests – Community Impact & More Details
31:01 High School Football, A.L. Brown & Local Pride
37:22 What’s Missing in NASCAR – The Polarizing Voice
44:40 C4 Energy, Sponsors & Why You Need to Be There
50:04 Water Burger Call-Out & Everyday Kannapolis Favorites
51:00 YMCA 1940 Brick, Cannon Mills History & Closing Love for K-Town
52:10 Three for Dale / Outro

Hosts: Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault
Location: Dayvault’s Garage / historic WRKB studios, downtown Kannapolis, NC

Come out May 23 for the Earnhardt Outdoors Showdown, support the local businesses that keep this town special, and keep the stories of Kannapolis alive. Subscribe, share with a neighbor who still remembers when Dale was the man, and we’ll see you in K-Town.

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Hardee’s Biscuits Got Him Inside the Mills: Chad Mitchell’s Untold Story | Ep 75

In Episode 75 of the K-Town Connection, lifelong Kannapolis photographer and artist Chad Mitchell opens his archive of more than 25,000 photographs that document the demolition of Cannon Mills — the place that built this town. As the massive mill complex disappeared, Chad decided someone had to record what was being lost. What began as a personal mission became one of the most important visual records of Kannapolis history ever created. He takes us inside the abandoned buildings, shares how he gained access (Hardee’s biscuits helped), and reveals the stories behind some of his most powerful images — including the fall of the iconic water tower, a once-in-a-lifetime balloon ride over the complex, and the unforgettable photograph of his late father standing in the partially demolished mill, looking out at the rubble of the place where he had worked for decades. Chad also looks back at an incredible creative career that includes photographing Appalachian State football during its national championship years, serving as team photographer for Kannapolis professional baseball, working with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, and creating artwork connected to Dale Earnhardt. His guiding philosophy has always been simple: Tell as much of the story as possible in one shutter click. Today, as a new generation grows up in a Kannapolis that looks nothing like the mill town their parents and grandparents knew, these photographs have become even more valuable. They don’t just preserve buildings — they preserve the people, the work, the memories, and the identity of a community that was forever changed. This episode is exactly what the K-Town Connection is about: preserving Kannapolis history by telling the stories of the people who lived it. 📸 Browse and purchase Chad’s photography and artwork: ChadMitchell.com 📍 Filmed at Historic Dayvault’s Dyno Tune-Up & Brake Service Garage in Kannapolis, North Carolina 🎙️ Hosted by the #RoughTalkCousins Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault, along with Chuck “Dr. Dave” Irvin and David Steele Chapters 0:00 – Intro & Local Updates 5:32 – Welcome to Episode 75 5:52 – Introducing Chad Mitchell 7:02 – Growing Up in Kannapolis 12:00 – How Chad Began Documenting the Mills 14:00 – Getting Access with Hardee’s Biscuits 17:18 – Inside the Abandoned Mill Buildings 19:24 – Over 25,000 Photographs 25:10 – The Darkest Place in the Mill 27:20 – “Lifeline” – The Railroad Light Painting 37:15 – Where to See & Buy the Photos 38:21 – Kiln-Dried Maple Floors & the Sign 39:49 – Baseball Photography Years 43:45 – The Dale Earnhardt Artwork 46:06 – The “Quality Work Means Job Security” Sign 53:45 – The Balloon Ride Over Cannon Mills 56:15 – The Photograph of Chad’s Father 59:48 – Closing Thoughts & Thank You

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