NASCAR Driver Ordered to Pay $850K in North Carolina 'Homewrecker' Lawsuit

A North Carolina woman has been awarded $850,000 by a jury in a lawsuit against NASCAR truck driver Jennifer Jo Cobb, who was accused of having an affair with the woman's husband. Tracey Hughes stated the lawsuit empowered her to stand up for herself.

Hughes filed the suit in 2024, alleging that Cobb, 53, had intentionally seduced and alienated the affections of her husband, Clayton Odie Hughes, leading to an affair that began in January 2021 and lasted several months. Hughes claimed Cobb regularly communicated with her husband, including while traveling for races, to arrange meetings.

The lawsuit was filed under two common-law torts still recognized in North Carolina: alienation of affection and criminal conversation. According to Hughes' attorney, John Vermitsky, alienation of affection involves any wrongful act by a third party that diminishes one spouse's feelings for the other, and it does not require proof of sexual relations.

A Davidson County jury ruled in favor of Hughes on September 24, awarding her $50,000 for alienation of affection and $800,000 for criminal conversation. An additional $2 in punitive damages was awarded, $1 for each claim. Hughes expressed that the substantial financial award was a statement from the jury and that being vindicated was more important to her.

The legal process, which involved public scrutiny, took a significant emotional toll on Hughes. "Your most private parts of your life are out there," she told WFMY. "I thought it would stop at the courtroom, but it’s gone a little bit more into the press."

Cobb's legal team has indicated that the final judgment has not yet been entered and that post-trial motions are pending. Cobb has competed in 256 races across NASCAR's O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and Truck Series over a two-decade career. Her last recorded race was in the 2024 Truck Series at Kansas City.