PLANO, TX – Fifteen years after purchasing a used 2008 Tundra in his home state of Idaho, Brandon Palaniuk’s journey with Toyota comes full circle with his addition to Toyota’s team of professional anglers. Texas-based Toyota Motor North America is proud to welcome Palaniuk to Team Toyota.

“We are proud to welcome Brandon to Team Toyota,” said Dedra DeLilli, Vice President of Marketing, Toyota Motor North America. “As a dedicated husband, father, and champion, Brandon embodies the values we admire. Having owned and towed with multiple Tundras, he truly understands the strength and reliability of our vehicles.”

Long before Palaniuk became a household name in tournament bass fishing, he was a young man from Idaho with what seemed like a farfetched dream of fishing for a living. In 2010 he was climbing the ranks of Bassmaster competition in hopes of one day qualifying for the Elite Series. It was then he made a pivotal decision to purchase a used Toyota Tundra, which proved to be the beginning of this new partnership.

“A big reason I bought that first Tundra was Toyota’s involvement in the sport and because I aspired to be one of the guys on Team Toyota,” Palaniuk recalled. “I wanted to be KVD, Swindle, Ike or Big Show. I was trying to emulate what they had. Fast forward over a decade, it’s incredibly humbling to be mentioned in the same conversation and on the same team as the anglers I idolized at the start of my career. It’s an honor that I don’t take for granted.”

Palaniuk has been a long-time member and proponent of the Toyota Bonus Bucks program. Toyota’s popular contingency program was another major factor in establishing his loyalty to the brand and tow vehicle in the early stages of his competitive fishing pursuits.

“I credit the money I made through Bonus Bucks with helping launch my professional career,” Palaniuk said. “I didn’t have sponsorship money coming in back in those days. I was working for a timber company in between tournaments to support my fishing, running heavy equipment building logging roads in the mountains, pretty much living paycheck to paycheck. The extra cash from Bonus Bucks checks here and there was a difference maker for me in being able to fund my first year on tour.”

Since those humble beginnings, which sometimes included sleeping in his “Tundra Suites” in the back of his tow vehicle, Palaniuk has gone on to live up to his nickname of “the prodigy”. His resume includes a B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, two Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, and five Bassmaster Elite Series trophies in his 15-years as a full-time pro angler.

More than his impressive accolades, Palaniuk is a leader both on and off the water. He’s looked up to by fans and his peers alike for his positive outlook and supportive nature. Palaniuk works just as hard at being the best dad, husband, business partner and person as he does at being the top bass angler on tour.

Toyota’s partnership with Palaniuk is a testament to the brand’s on-going support of bass fishing. Sponsoring numerous top-level tournament trails, a team of pro anglers, the BassmastHER movement, and amateur anglers of all levels through Toyota Bonus Bucks.