Former NASCAR Driver Ordered to Pay Woman $850K After Alleged Affair with Her Husband Ended Their Marriage

A former NASCAR star has been ordered to pay more than $850,000 to a woman who claimed the driver had an affair with her husband

Tracey Hughes sued driver Jennifer Jo Cobb in North Carolina's Davidson County in 2024, alleging alienation of affection and criminal conversation

She accused Cobb of having an affair with her then-husband, NASCAR spotter Clayton Odie Hughes, in the months leading up to their separation

A former NASCAR star has been ordered to pay more than $850,000 to a woman who claimed the driver's alleged affair with her husband ended her marriage.

In 2024, Tracey Hughes filed a lawsuit against driver Jennifer Jo Cobb in North Carolina's Davidson County, accusing her of having an affair with her then-husband, Clayton Odie Hughes, in the months leading up to their divorce, per Fox affiliate WTVT .

In the complaint, Tracey accused Cobb, 53, of alienation of affection , alleging that she encouraged her husband of 17 years — who has worked as a NASCAR spotter since 2003, per Instagram — to lie about taking trips and helped him hide the relationship, the outlet reported.

The complaint alleged that Cobb "willfully, intentionally and deliberately seduced, enticed and alienated the affections" of Clayton before the couple separated in January 2021, according to CBS affiliate WBTV .

In Tracey's second claim, she claimed the affair "invaded and ended" the "exclusive rights and privileges" of her marriage and "dishonored" the couple's "marital bed," asking the court to award her damages for criminal conversation, a civil tort that lets a spouse sue a third party for having sexual relations with their marital partner, per WTVT.

Tracey sought damages exceeding $25,000 for both claims, as well as punitive damages exceeding $25,000, WBTV reported.

On Thursday, Sept. 24, jurors found Cobb liable for both claims and awarded Tracey $50,000 in damages for "maliciously and wrongfully caus[ing] alienation" and $800,000 for "commit[ting] criminal conversation," as well as nominal punitive damages of $1 for each claim, according to court documents reviewed by PEOPLE.

Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE's free sports newsletter — sign up now!

NASCAR 's official website describes Cobb as the holder of several Camping World Truck Series records, including highest-finishing female driver in overall season points and most starts by a female driver.

She is also a member of the 200-plus mph club and one of only a few women with a top-10 finish at "the highest levels" of the sport. She last raced in the Truck Series in 2024.

PEOPLE reached out to Cobb for comment but did not immediately hear back.