A North Carolina woman is feeling like she got justice after a jury ordered NASCAR truck driver Jennifer Jo Cobb to pay her $850,000 in a "homewrecker" lawsuit. Tracey Hughes said the legal battle, which ended her 17-year marriage to Clayton Odie Hughes, gave her power and focus.
"I felt like my whole world had just blown up," Hughes told WFMY. She filed the lawsuit in 2024, claiming Cobb, 53, "willfully, intentionally, and deliberately seduced, enticed, and alienated the affections" of her husband, leading to an affair that lasted for months. Hughes alleged that Cobb, a veteran NASCAR driver who has competed in over 250 races, frequently texted her husband, even while traveling for races, to arrange meet-ups. Clayton Hughes was reportedly a long-time spotter for Cobb's racing team.
Hughes sued Cobb under alienation of affection and criminal conversation, legal claims available in a few states like North Carolina. Her attorney, John Vermitsky, explained that alienation of affection can occur without sex, involving any wrongful act by a third party that sways one spouse's feelings for the other. Hughes sought over $25,000 in damages for both claims.
The Verdict
A Davidson County jury sided with Hughes on September 24, awarding her $850,002. This amount breaks down to $50,000 for alienation of affection and $800,000 for criminal conversation (adultery). The jury also added $1 in punitive damages for each claim, bringing the total to the final figure. Hughes emphasized that the monetary award felt like a statement from the jury, but the true win was feeling vindicated.
The Toll
Despite the victory, Hughes admitted the lawsuit took a significant personal toll, especially given the public nature of the case. "Your most private parts of your life are out there," she shared, noting that the story had spilled beyond the courtroom into the press. Cobb, however, is contesting the ruling, stating that the final judgment hasn't been entered and post-trial motions are still pending. She wants to make it clear that the jury's decision is not yet legally binding.
