K-Town Connection Official Home of the K-Town Connection

Tyler Buckwell – A.L. Brown High School teacher, coach, and the next chapter of a deep Kannapolis family legacy – joins Chris Hughes, Ryan Dayvault, and Chuck Irvin (Dr. Dave) on K-Town Connection. Son of longtime Kannapolis coach and administrator Darren “Chip” Buckwell, Tyler is the guy you see everywhere at A.L. Brown: on the field, in the classroom, behind the camera, running graphics and social media, and putting Wonders students in the spotlight. He talks family roots, growing up in Kannapolis, the old mills and downtown, Friday night culture, and why building buy-in for the next generation matters. Recorded in the historic WRKB studios in beautiful downtown Kannapolis. 00:00 Cold Open – Dr. Dave, Sun Drop & the 1984 A.L. Brown State Championship Program 01:41 Introducing Chip Buckwell & the Buckwell Family Legacy 02:33 “That Guy Is All Over A.L. Brown” – Meet Tyler Buckwell 04:30 Heart of the K-Town Connection Theme 05:15 Welcome to Episode 7 07:23 “Today I Give My All for Kannapolis” 10:53 Family Roots: Dad Chip, Grandma & Kannapolis Schools 14:17 Growing Up in Kannapolis 17:15 Downtown, the Mills & Watching the Town Change 21:35 Creating Buy-In for the Next Generation of Wonders 25:18 Coaching, Film & Football Season Realities 28:19 Tyler’s Path into Coaching & Media 38:33 The Earnhardt Fabric of Kannapolis 40:51 Wonders, NASCAR & What Binds the Community 45:59 Media, Graphics & Putting A.L. Brown Kids in the Spotlight 49:42 Every Student a Wonder – Building Friday Night Culture 52:56 Setting the Standard for Young Kannapolis Kids 54:21 The 40-Year Buckwell Impact 55:24 Final Thoughts: Why Telling These Stories Matters 57:17 Closing & Outro – Three for Dale Hosts: Chris Hughes, Ryan Dayvault, and Chuck Irvin (Dr. Dave) If you love real Kannapolis stories about coaches, families, and the next generation of Wonders, hit subscribe, share this with a fellow K-Towner, and keep the conversation going. This is our town.

Ken Knox of The Chairmen of the Board sits down in Kannapolis to talk Detroit Motown roots, beach music, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, and why he believes Kannapolis is the Music Capital of North Carolina. From transistor radios and street-corner singing in Detroit to joining General Johnson and Danny Woods, Ken shares the stories behind the hits (including Carolina Girls) and even performs the Sun Drop jingle he once pitched. Recorded in the historic WRKB studios in downtown Kannapolis. Chapters: 0:00 Cold Open – Beach Music Season & The Surf 2:33 Theme Song – This Is My Town 3:19 Welcome to K-Town Connection 3:50 Ken Knox Enters the Studio 4:04 Sun Drop Welcome & Community Pride 6:41 Detroit Radio, Transistor Radios & Street Corners 9:00 The Beatles U-Haul Story 10:36 Meeting General Johnson & Danny Woods 11:05 Audition at Invictus Records – Joining Chairmen of the Board 20:34 The Legendary Sun Drop Jingle 22:26 Ken’s Experience in Kannapolis 41:13 North Carolina Music Hall of Fame 41:56 Kannapolis: The Music Capital of North Carolina 42:37 Swanee Theater, Local Talent & A.L. Brown Roots 43:43 Waterburger, Witch Doctor & Local Favorites 44:31 Falls Jewelers 45:04 Band Members Shoutouts 47:08 Upcoming Shows – KC & the Sunshine Band + Beach Boys Rumor 47:47 Sun Drop Jingle Reprise 48:34 Dr. Dave Joins 49:37 Get Jiggy with the Piggy & Craig Morgan 50:08 Closing – Three for Dale Hosted by Chris Hughes and Ryan Dayvault Recorded at Dayvault’s Garage / historic WRKB studios – Kannapolis, NC Special appearance by Chuck Irvin (Dr. Dave) If you love beach music, local history, and the people who made the Carolina sound, this one’s for you. Subscribe and share with someone who still plays Carolina Girls at every wedding.

Jonny Cannon, Kannapolis native and owner of Cardiacs Sports & Memorabilia, comes home to talk Big Green Machine memories, A.L. Brown, racing cards, and life growing up in K-Town. Recorded in the historic WRKB studios in beautiful downtown Kannapolis, Chris Hughes and Ryan Dayvault welcome Jonny for a fun, nostalgic episode full of local sports history, childhood stories, and plenty of memorabilia talk. Chuck Irvin (Dr. Dave) also stops by toward the end. Chapters: 0:00 Cold Open – Cannon Ballers Static & 1992 Coke 600 Memories 2:07 Theme Song – This Is My Town 3:00 Jonny Cannon Joins the Show 4:55 Growing Up in Kannapolis – Small-Town Freedom & Family 6:07 Big Green Machine: Drum Line Captain & All-State 6:45 Memorial Stadium, Lou Bean & the Death March 9:30 Band Bus Trips, Bristol Festival & High School Stories 14:50 Skateland & Childhood Hangouts in K-Town 19:40 Racing Legends – Earnhardt, Petty, Harry Gant & the Gentle Giants 23:50 Army Career & Coming Home to Kannapolis 29:30 Cannon Dock & Door + the Guard Shack Story 37:30 The Card Pack Challenge Begins 39:50 Rare Pulls – Jeff Gordon Auto & the Sun Drop Battle 43:40 Cardiacs at 115 West A – Above Falls Jewelers 44:49 Falls Jewelers Sponsor Read 45:50 Closing Thoughts, Gift & Invite Back 47:10 Outro Location: Dayvault’s Garage / Historic WRKB Studios, Downtown Kannapolis Hosts: Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault If you love Kannapolis history, A.L. Brown, local sports, or just good hometown stories, this one’s for you. Like, subscribe, and share it with someone who grew up in K-Town.

Makenzie Lingafelt of the West Avenue District joins Ryan Dayvault and Chris Hughes for a high-energy look at the revival of downtown Kannapolis. From Hurricane Hugo memories and local football pioneers to the social district, open containers, Jiggy with the Piggy, and Earnhardt Outdoors Day, this episode is pure K-Town pride. Recorded in the historic WRKB studios in beautiful downtown Kannapolis. 00:00 Cold Open – Hurricane Hugo Nostalgia in K-Town 00:49 Doug Roberts, Old Newspaper & Local Legends 01:20 Arnold Solomon & the Kannapolis High School Football Legacy 04:18 Sun Drop Cooler, Delon Hart & Bill’s Truck Stop 06:16 The Whataburger Call 07:36 Welcome Makenzie Lingafelt & the Earnhardt Wheaties Shirt 09:04 Growing Up Local, Moving Away & Coming Home 10:06 Day-to-Day Work & Building the West Avenue Following 13:09 What Sets Kannapolis Apart – Heart of the Community 17:24 West Avenue District, Social District & Open Containers 18:33 Jiggy with the Piggy & Earnhardt Outdoors Day 20:35 Sponsor Break – Falls Jewelers 21:18 Welcome Back + Downtown Energy 24:07 Teasing a Second Location & K-Town Connection Plans 25:00 Running, Broken Leg & Local Motivation 30:07 Born in Concord, Local Addresses & Roots 31:18 Music at the Parks – Night Ranger, Spinners & More 35:15 How Dead Downtown Really Was 38:03 Haters, Success & the Mount Rushmore of Kannapolis 44:33 Final Thoughts from Makenzie 45:33 Closing + Three for Dale Hosts: Ryan Dayvault & Chris Hughes Guest: Makenzie Lingafelt – West Avenue District If you love Kannapolis history, downtown energy, and the people making this town boom again, hit subscribe and share this one with a neighbor. Three for Dale.

Randy McAnulty of The Slot Car Track joins Chris Hughes and Ryan Dayvault for a deep dive into Kannapolis racing history, slot cars, and the local track where Dale Earnhardt won his first trophy. Recorded in the historic WRKB studios in downtown Kannapolis, this episode is packed with rough talk, Earnhardt memorabilia, family racing stories, and pure K-Town pride. Randy shares how he built his tracks, keeps kids and families racing for under $200 to get started, and why slot cars still matter in a racing town. Dr. Dave (Chuck Irvin) also stops by with the weekly weather report. 00:00 Cold Open – Rough Talk & the ’94 Magazine 04:52 Theme Song & Episode Intro 05:42 Kannapolis Updates & Cannon Ballers 09:42 Introducing Randy McAnulty 10:13 Randy Joins the Table 14:41 How Randy Got Started (Concord → Kannapolis) 18:35 Victory Junction & Community Racing 24:37 Dale Earnhardt’s First Trophy Track 25:16 Getting Kids Started – Cost & Accessibility 29:59 Racing Around the World 35:11 Rough Talk: Sun Drop & the Cannon Ballers 36:10 Dr. Dave’s Weather Report 38:17 Idiot Circle 41:07 Closing + Three for Dale Hosts: Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault Guest: Randy McAnulty – The Slot Car Track (Kannapolis) & The Race Center If you grew up in Kannapolis, raced slot cars, or still get chills when you see a black #3, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a fellow K-Towner, and keep the local stories rolling.

Broadcasting from the historic WRKB studios in charming downtown Kannapolis, Chris Hughes and Ryan Dayvault sit down with Randy McAnulty of The Slot Car Track for an exciting and spirited conversation. Expect plenty of Rough Talk, fascinating insights into racing and the local community, and a generous dose of laughter and cutting up. Plus, last week’s guest, Dr. Dave (Chuck …

Dr. Dave (Chuck Irvin), the voice of Z100, returns to the old WRKB studios in downtown Kannapolis for the first-ever guest episode of K-Town Connection. Chuck sits down with Chris Hughes and Ryan Dayvault to talk about the early days of local radio — WRKB, WGTL (“World’s Greatest Textile Land”), the move to FM 100, the birth of Z100/WJZR, radio names, community remote broadcasts, and what it was like growing up and working in Kannapolis when the mills were still running strong. He even breaks out the classic Z100 air-check style for us. 00:00 – Cold Open: 1976 Magazine & Historic WRKB Studio 00:48 – Intro Music & Hosts Welcome 01:50 – Local Updates: Main Street, Cannon Ballers & Swanee Theater 06:15 – Introducing First Guest Chuck Irvin 07:20 – Dr. Dave Arrives in the Old Studio 09:00 – Early Days & Getting into Radio 11:00 – From WRKB to Z100 / WJZR 13:50 – Call Letters, Paul Winston & the Studio Split 19:00 – Z100 Stickers & Community Buzz 21:00 – How Chuck Became “Dr. Dave” 24:00 – Classic Z100 Voice Demo 26:00 – Dr. Dave Does a Live Remote Promo 27:30 – Kannapolis Then & Now: Downtown Renaissance 35:00 – Why Local Radio Still Matters 44:00 – Kentucky Colonel Honor for Chris Hughes 46:00 – Closing & Three for Dale Recorded in the historic WRKB studios in downtown Kannapolis. Hosts: Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault Guest: Dr. Dave (Chuck Irvin) If you grew up with Z100 stickers on your car, listened to local radio, or just love hearing the real stories of Kannapolis, this one’s for you. Share it with someone who still remembers those days. Subscribe for more local history, community voices, and the people who built K-Town.

Lifelong Kannapolis residents and Rough Talk cousins Chris Hughes and Ryan Dayvault launch the very first episode of the K-Town Connection from the historic WRKB studios in downtown Kannapolis. In this foundational episode the two hosts introduce themselves, share their deep local roots (including Ryan’s multi-term service on City Council and Chris’s work covering high school sports through Carolina Preps), and lay out the vision for the show: a digital scrapbook of Kannapolis news, events, history, everyday citizens, and community stories. They also pay homage to the city’s Cannon Mills textile heritage and racing legacy that still define the town. Recorded in the historic WRKB studios in beautiful Downtown Kannapolis. Hosts: Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault Chapters: 00:00 – Cold Open / Music 00:26 – Episode 1 Kickoff 00:45 – Introducing Chris Hughes & Ryan Dayvault 01:30 – Ryan Dayvault: Lifelong Kannapolis Boy & City Councilman 03:15 – Chris Hughes: Military Service, Carolina Preps & Local Pride 04:50 – The Dayvault Clan & Family Ties to Kannapolis 06:40 – Why We Created the K-Town Connection 08:20 – Building a Digital Scrapbook of Our Community 10:10 – Cannon Mills Heritage & Textile Stories 12:20 – Racing Legacy Meets Textile Roots 14:40 – What to Expect in Upcoming Episodes 17:10 – Historic WRKB Studios & Community Supporters 19:40 – Rough Talk Closing Thoughts 21:50 – Final Call & Outro The renovated Downtown Radio Studios were made possible by Kent Gregory, Ken Lingafelt, Leah Allen, and Coddle Creek Capital. If you love Kannapolis history, local stories, and a little Rough Talk, hit subscribe, like, and share so more neighbors can discover the stories that make our town special. This is just the beginning.