Carla Metts Gebhart: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Career

Carla Metts Gebhart: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Career

If you’ve spent any time scrolling through sports news in the Carolinas lately, you’ve probably seen the name Carla Metts Gebhart. She's kind of everywhere. But honestly, if you try to find a traditional Carla Metts Gebhart Wikipedia page, you're going to come up short. It’s one of those weird internet voids where someone is clearly a public figure—hosting major shows and reporting from the sidelines of the Daytona 500—yet the formal "encyclopedic" record hasn't quite caught up yet.

There's also a bit of confusion because there is another Carla Gebhart who is a high-fashion model from Argentina. Different person entirely. Our Carla is the one deeply embedded in the world of NASCAR, the NFL, and local Charlotte sports.

She isn't just a face on a screen. She’s the Sports Director at Queen City News (WJZY) in Charlotte, North Carolina. That’s a big seat to fill. You don't just land that role by accident; it’s the result of a massive grind through local news markets and a genuine, almost obsessive love for the game.

From the Sidelines to the Director’s Chair

Carla's story basically starts at Georgia Southern University. She wasn't just a student; she was a four-year captain of the co-ed cheerleading squad. That matters. It gives you a specific kind of perspective on the atmosphere of a stadium that you can’t get from a press box.

After college, she didn't just walk into a plum job in a major market like Charlotte. She put in the work in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, working for Midco Sports. If you want to talk about "paying your dues," reporting on sports in the Dakotas is a pretty solid example. It’s cold, the travel is brutal, and you have to be a one-person army—shooting, editing, and writing your own scripts.

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She eventually made the jump to Charlotte, which she calls home now. By September 2023, she was elevated to Sports Director. It’s a move that her peers in the industry, like those back at Midco, saw coming from a mile away. They talk about her "southern twang" and how it fits perfectly with the NASCAR culture that dominates that region.

The NASCAR Connection and Dirty Mo Media

One of the reasons you might be searching for her is her work with Dirty Mo Media. For those not in the know, that’s Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s media empire.

Carla hosts "DJD Reloaded," which is a companion show to the massive "Dale Jr. Download" podcast. It’s a smart gig. She’s essentially the bridge between the fans and the deep-dive interviews Dale Jr. conducts.

Recently, people on Reddit and social media have been buzzing about her work with The CW. Since The CW picked up Xfinity Series racing and various college sports, they’ve been using her as a sideline reporter. People have noticed. She isn't just reading stats; she’s actually studied the teams. You can tell when a reporter has done their homework versus when they’re just waiting for their cue to speak.

Why There Isn't a Wikipedia Page Yet

It’s actually sort of common for local TV personalities to lack a dedicated Wikipedia entry, even if they have a larger national presence through platforms like NASCAR on NBC or The CW. Wikipedia has these "notability" guidelines that can be surprisingly rigid.

  1. Local vs. National: Most of her primary work is tied to a local affiliate (WJZY), which sometimes gets overlooked by the volunteer editors who maintain the site.
  2. The Name Confusion: As mentioned, the Argentine fashion model Carla Gebhart has a significant digital footprint, which sometimes clutters the search results for the sports journalist.
  3. Recent Ascent: Her promotion to Sports Director and her national sideline roles are relatively recent developments in the grand scheme of a decades-long career.

But just because there isn't a blue link with a table of contents doesn't mean her impact isn't real. She’s become a key voice for the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC. When Panthers running back Miles Sanders opened up about his mental health struggles recently, it was Carla who captured that raw, honest moment.

Breaking Into a Male-Dominated Field

Carla has been pretty vocal about what it’s like being a woman in sports broadcasting. She doesn't lean into the "it’s so hard" narrative, though. Instead, she’s sort of matter-of-fact about it.

She once told Charlotte Women Magazine that she tries not to think about it too much. Her philosophy is basically: be yourself. It sounds like a cliché, but in TV, it’s actually really hard. When the red light goes on, people tend to "act" like a reporter. Carla’s strength is that she sounds like the same person whether the camera is on or off.

She even takes it as a compliment when her male colleagues say she’s "one of the boys." Some people might find that outdated, but for her, it’s about the respect and the camaraderie that comes with being in the trenches of a long season.

Career Milestones You Should Know

  • Education: Georgia Southern University (Communications major, Journalism minor).
  • Early Career: KELO-TV and Midco Sports in South Dakota.
  • NASCAR: Extensive coverage of the Daytona 500 and hosting roles at Dirty Mo Media.
  • Current Role: Sports Director at Queen City News in Charlotte.
  • Sideline Work: Frequent appearances on The CW for ACC football and NASCAR Xfinity races.

What's Next for Carla Metts Gebhart?

As we move through 2026, her trajectory is clearly pointing toward more national work. With the way sports media is fragmenting—moving away from just the "big four" networks and into places like The CW and independent podcast networks—someone with her versatility is in high demand.

She has this ability to pivot from the high-octane environment of a pit road at Martinsville to a serious post-game locker room interview with an NFL veteran. That’s a rare skill set.

If you’re looking to follow her career or get into the industry yourself, there are a few things to take away from her path. First, don't be afraid of the small markets. Sioux Falls was the playground where she learned the technical skills that now allow her to run a whole department in Charlotte. Second, lean into your niche. Her deep understanding of NASCAR isn't just a job; it’s a cultural fit that has made her indispensable to the Charlotte media landscape.

To stay updated on her latest reporting or her takes on the Panthers' season, the best places to look aren't a Wikipedia page, but her active social media profiles and the Queen City News sports portal.

Next Steps for Research:

  • Watch her "DJD Reloaded" segments on the Dirty Mo Media YouTube channel to see her interviewing style in a relaxed format.
  • Check out the Queen City News (WJZY) website for her daily "Charlotte Sports Live" segments.
  • Follow her Twitter (X) feed for real-time updates from the Panthers' locker room or the NASCAR garage.