Alton Jones’ title of Bassmaster Classic Champion was only moments old when the folks from Toyota added an extra $7,500 to his half-a-million-dollar day.
Six weeks prior to the Classic, Alton purchased a Toyota Sequoia, and quickly sent in his registration to be eligible for the brand new Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks contingency program. Confident, yet humble, it’s doubtful Alton was counting on getting his first bonus check as a result of winning the Bassmaster Classic, but as the highest placing registered Tundra or Sequoia owner in a Classic field, that’s exactly what happened.
Cooler still was the fact that Mississippi’s Cliff Pace finished second to Alton and was also a registered Bonus Bucks participant as a result of buying a Tundra last autumn. Pace picked up an extra $2,500 for his decision to tow with a Tundra throughout the upcoming season.
The Bonus Bucks contingency program is simple. Drive a 2007 or newer Tundra or Sequoia that is registered in your name and compete in B.A.S.S. affiliated events ranging from the Weekend Series and Federation Nation, all the way up to the Elite Series, and post the highest finish among all eligible Bonus Bucks participants in the event, and you’re going to cash-in like Alton and Cliff did.
Plus Federation Nation anglers benefit doubly through matching funds supplied by Toyota to their state chapters.
Everything you need to know, along with a registration form is available at www.toyotafishing.com. Incentive programs aside, nobody had to twist the arms of Jones and Pace to tow with Toyota. Cliff Pace believes in the quality of Toyota to the point of making his current Tundra his third consecutive.
And as Alton Jones held the jumbo-sized paycheck in the press room immediately after the Classic, he graciously stated “I really believe our Sequoia is the single best vehicle my wife and I have ever owned, in fact, it’s a fight to see who’s going to get to drive it each day. We love it.” Jones and Pace aren’t alone. Other top competitors such as Jeff Coble, Edwin Evers, Kelly Jordon, Todd Auten, Randy Howell, Casey Ashley and Timmy Horton also own Toyotas, and Federation Nation anglers Randy Rader, Teb Jones, Steve Porter and Wayne Hauser have already signed up too.