ESPN Elite Series

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — While most of the attention at this week's Elite Series season finale has been paid to the 2008 Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year race between Kevin VanDam and Todd Faircloth, there is also the race for Bassmaster Classic berths.

Thirty-seven are open to BASS anglers hoping to qualify on points for the 39th Classic scheduled for February 20-22 on the Red River near Bossier, La.

"It's good to be going back to the Classic again," said 1995 Classic champ Mark Davis on Thursday afternoon."

Despite participating in 26 previous Classics, Texas angling legend Gary Klein breathed a big sigh of relief on Thursday when he secured his slot.

"That weight solidifies the Classic for me," Klein told BASS emcee Keith Alan. "This will be the 27th Classic that I've been able to fish — and hopefully this will be the one that I'll finally win."

On Friday, while most of the media wanted to cover the conclusion of the TTBAOY race — won later in the day by 2001 and 2005 Classic Champ KVD — most of the anglers weighing in on the stage wanted to talk about the Super Bowl of bass fishing.

"You never get tired of that (qualifying for the Classic), no matter how many times you do it," four-time Classic king Rick Clunn told the crowd.

"I know one thing, it really hurts when you don't make it."

Obviously so, since a short while later, 1998 Classic champ Denny Brauer bid for his 20th qualification came up short.

"I'm not real happy with my day. That's really all I've got to say," said Brauer before glumly walking away.

Another Elite Series pro taking his missed opportunity hard was North Carolina angler Marty Stone, who had been seeking his fifth appearance at the Classic. "I took the Classic for granted for a couple of years," he told the crowd.

"I'm not going to do that anymore. Next year, I'm coming out with both barrels loaded."

Still fighting for a 2009 Classic berth after Friday's second round is Kentucky pro Mark Menendez, also seeking his fifth Classic appearance.

"I've been fishing by the seat of my pants (this week)," Menendez said. "I'm just making this up as I go.

"But I'm going to get in that Classic."

Also looking for a Classic invite this week is Kelly Jordon, hoping to make it for the seventh time in his stellar career.

"A 5-pounder is a great bonus, especially here in New York, where a 5-pound fish is pretty big," Jordon told the crowd about his Friday Purolator co-Big Bass. "(But) my goal when I got here was to do good enough to make the Classic."

Anyone getting the picture here?

Davy Hite, the 1997 and 2002 Classic champ, surely is.

"I've been fortunate enough to make 12 Classics and I've kind of taken them for granted," Hite said on Friday. "I had a bad day yesterday (and it may have cost me). It is what it is."

It's obvious anglers still not assured of a Classic berth are operating under immense pressure this week.

"I think we're all feeling the pressure," Byron Velvick admitted to the crowd on Thursday afternoon, as he seeks to secure his first-ever Classic appearance.

"A lot of us are hardly breathing out there and it's nerve wracking, since we're on the bubble."

Visit Bassmaster.com for full coverage of the Elite Series Champion's Choice with weigh-in host Keith Alan, Aug. 3-10, 2008. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, daily weigh-ins with live streaming video and real-time leaderboards start at 5:00 p.m. ET. On Saturday, catch "Bassmaster University" at 4:15 p.m. ET before the weigh-in. Then on Sunday, get "Hooked Up" with hosts Tommy Sanders and Mark Zona at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET. Live JWC weigh-in video starts at 5 p.m. ET with the final weigh-in and real-time leaderboard of the season starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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