NASCAR Driver Jennifer Jo Cobb Ordered to Pay $850K in Historic 'Homewrecker' Verdict
A North Carolina jury has ordered veteran NASCAR driver Jennifer Jo Cobb to pay $850,000 to Tracey Hughes, who sued her for an alleged affair that ended her marriage. The verdict, reached on September 24, 2026, upholds a 19th-century legal doctrine allowing spouses to sue third parties for 'alienation of affection' and 'criminal conversation.' Cobb, who has denied the allegations, faces a massive financial penalty despite initially seeking to dismiss the case. The case highlights the continued, albeit rare, application of archaic 'homewrecker' laws in a handful of U.S. states, including North Carolina, where such statutes remain on the books.