A longtime NASCAR driver has been ordered by a court to pay $850,000 over an alleged affair with a married man.
Jennifer Jo Cobb, 53, was sued by Tracey Hughes, who accused her of sparking the end of her marriage to her husband of 17 years, Clayton Odie Hughes, in 2020.
A North Carolina jury sided with Hughes last week and ordered Cobb to pay $50,000 for alienation of affection and $800,000 for criminal conversation.
Cobb, a longtime NASCAR truck driver who last raced in 2024, was sued by Hughes two years ago over the alleged affair.
Hughes’ complaint, seen by WOWT, claimed that Cobb ‘willfully, intentionally, and deliberately seduced, enticed, and alienated the affections’ of her husband.
This allegedly went on for several months until the couple separated in January 2021, according to the legal filing.
Hughes said she had been happily married until Cobb entered the fray.
The heartbroken divorcee alleged in her complaint that Cobb called and texted her husband while traveling to races, and set up secret meetings for sex.
A female NASCAR driver has been ordered by a court to pay $850,000 after she was allegedly involved in an affair. Jennifer Jo Cobb (pictured), 53, was sued by Tracey Hughes, who accused her of sparking the end of her marriage to her husband of 17 years in 2020
A North Carolina jury sided with Hughes last week and ordered Cobb (pictured) to pay $50,000 for alienation of affection and $800,000 for criminal conversation
Hughes stated that she ‘suffered the loss of support, injury to [her] feelings and reputation, and had her marital relationship destroyed’ by the alleged affair.
She sought damages in excess of $25,000 for both the alienation of affection and criminal conversation claims, along with $25,000 in punitive damages.
In civil law, a deserted spouse can claim damages for alienation of affection if they can prove a third party intentionally destroyed the love and affection in their marriage.
They must show that they had a loving marriage before the interference, and that this was taken away by the actions of the third party.
Criminal conversation is also a civil tort rather than a crime, despite its name, which allows a person to sue somebody for having sexual relations with their spouse while their marriage is still in tact.
A jury returned a verdict in Hughes’ favor on September 24 in Davidson County, and awarded her $850,000 – much more than she bargained for.
Cobb (pictured), a longtime NASCAR truck driver who last raced in 2024, was sued by Hughes two years ago over the alleged affair
Cobb’s two-decade-long NASCAR career began in 2004 and her last race was 2024. Her #10 Fastener Supply Company Chevrolet is pictured as she competed in a race April 2021
Cobb, from Kansas City, also had a husband.
She married Eddie Troconis, another NASCAR driver and her team member, in what she described as a ‘fairy tale wedding’ in 2015.
It’s unclear whether they separated before or after the alleged affair with Hughes.
Cobb’s two-decade-long NASCAR career began in 2004 and her last race was 2024.
She owned her own team – Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing – alongside being a racing driver herself, specializing in stock car competitions.
Cobb previously starred in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series.
The Daily Mail has contacted Cobb for comment on the civil lawsuit and alleged affair.
