While growing up, Brenda Corneliusen always followed her big brother Brett around, trying everything that he did. Even through High School, the two were involved in many of the same activities. It then only came natural for her to try PRO Rally when her brother asked her to co-drive lead car at the 1995 Ojibwe Forests PRO Rally. She had never even seen a PRO Rally, but jumped in the passenger seat with no fear. Brett did it, so why not? From that weekend on she was hooked, doing anything necessary to be in the sport that has now become a major part of her life.
In 1997, Brenda and Brett entered their first rally as competitors, the Lake Superior PRO Rally Divisionals. The brother/sister team bought Bob Nielsen's Rabbit and they were off and running under the name of Atomic Racing. After a rather disheartening transit past Aaron Hatz's flipped Golf on the first stage, the two finished their first rally third in class.
At the 1998 Headwaters Divisional PRO Rally, the two were at it again. This time, however, it was their turn to crash. After some rather acrobatic moves from the Rabbit, they ended up in the ditch. Both driver and navigator were okay, but the car was totalled. The two got a different car just in time for Ojibwe Forests PRO Rally with the goal of finishing. "It's hard coming off a big crash, you don't know quite how you're going to react to things during the next race," Brenda said. Then in October Brenda got the opportunity to co-drive for Mark Utecht at Lake Superior PRO Rally. It was her first time competing Nationally and the two had a wonderful weekend that was capped off by a National and a Divisional win.
In 1999, Brenda co-drove for Bob Nielsen. Competing at Headwaters ClubRally (Park Rapids, MN), Ojibwe Forests ProRally (Bemidji, MN), and Lake Superior ProRally (Houghton, MI), she netted a second place ClubRally trophy for Group 2 Co-driver in Central Division.
The 2000 season sees Brenda joining Mark Utecht and Mayhem Racing.
Brenda graduated from Moorhead State University in the Fall of 1993, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications concentrating in Public Relations. She is currently the Wholesale Account Representative for Tuxedo's by Gingiss in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
When she's not racing, Brenda finds as much time as possible to be with her family, especially her three nephews Zach, Ethan, and Spencer. She enjoys traveling, her favorite place being Kauai, Hawaii. Brenda is engaged to Mayhem Racing crew chief, JB Lewis.
Brenda can be reached at: bengarally@hotmail.com
Team/Web site: Mayhem Racing