A giant cardboard paycheck brought a grin to Bassmaster Classic champion Cliff Pace’s face when he was presented $7,500 in Toyota Bonus Bucks money.
The new champ has long towed his Skeeter with a Tundra, and this is not the first check that Pace has hauled home from Toyota’s angler friendly cash bonus program. Much like the superior wisdom he’s displayed for fishing, the $7,500 he’ll add to his Classic winning $500,000 first place prize proves he was wise to sign-up for the Toyota Bonus Bucks Program several years ago.
Unfortunately, smiles weren’t coming easily to the youthful face of the normally jovial Brandon Palaniuk following the Bassmaster Classic press conference. Palaniuk made a great showing each of the Classic’s three days, including a strong final day run, that ended in a heartbreaking second place finish to Pace. Still Palaniuk graciously smiled with his Bonus Bucks check for $2,500, and he remains one of the program’s greatest ambassadors.
“Brandon has told us many times that the $15,000 in Bonus Bucks he won in a short period of time for his 2010 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, followed by his high finish at the 2011 Bassmaster Classic, were very important to him financially, as he attempted to fund the launch of his pro career,” said Toyota’s Jim Baudino. “It’s really terrific to watch him continue to benefit from the program and succeed as a professional angler,” he added.
Unlike Cliff and Brandon, you don’t have to be a full-time pro to be a member of Bonus Bucks, and signing up is simple. Own or lease a 2009 or newer Toyota Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser or Tacoma, and register online at www.ToyotaFishing.com or by calling Kendell at 918-742-6424. Then be the highest finishing eligible participant in your FLW or BASS affiliated tournament — and you win the Bonus Bucks.