A North Carolina woman, Tracey Hughes, was awarded $850,002 by a Davidson County jury after NASCAR truck driver Jennifer Jo Cobb was found liable for alienation of affection and criminal conversation, which are common-law torts in North Carolina. The jury's decision was made on September 24, 2026, following Hughes' lawsuit claiming that Cobb's actions led to the breakdown of her 17-year marriage to Clayton Odie Hughes in January 2021.
Hughes stated that the lawsuit empowered her and gave her focus. She claimed that Cobb, 53, had willfully seduced and enticed her husband, leading to an affair that lasted several months. Hughes alleged that Cobb frequently texted her husband to arrange meetings while traveling for races.
Hughes sought damages exceeding $25,000 for both claims, and the jury awarded her $50,000 for alienation of affection and $800,000 for criminal conversation, along with $1 in punitive damages for each claim. Hughes expressed that the monetary award was a statement from the jury, emphasizing the importance of vindication over the amount awarded.
The ruling is not yet final, as Cobb has indicated that post-trial motions are ongoing and the final judgment has not been entered. Cobb has had a two-decade career in NASCAR, competing in 256 races across the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Truck Series, with her last race occurring in 2024 in Kansas City, where she finished 31st.