{"id":1171529,"date":"2026-04-27T11:36:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T15:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nortonhealthcare.com\/news\/"},"modified":"2026-04-27T11:36:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T15:36:13","slug":"racing-back-stronger-how-a-heart-procedure-put-a-nascar-driver-back-in-the-drivers-seat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nortonhealthcare.com\/news\/racing-back-stronger-how-a-heart-procedure-put-a-nascar-driver-back-in-the-drivers-seat","title":{"rendered":"Racing back stronger: How a heart procedure put a NASCAR driver back in the driver\u2019s seat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For Bryce Applegate, racing has always been about precision, focus, and control. From the time he first climbed into a go\u2011kart as a kid, he showed a natural ability to read the track, analyze his surroundings and push a car to its limits. That talent has carried him from local indoor go-kart leagues to late model stock cars, Legend Cars, and now the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR\u2019s developmental pipeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But a few years ago, something began happening off the track that Bryce couldn\u2019t explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would just be sitting there, and my heart would go from maybe 60 or 90 beats a minute to almost 300 in a split second,\u201d Bryce said. \u201cI\u2019d get short of breath, lightheaded, and feel like I was going to pass out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, he chalked it up to growing pains. Bryce was a teenager, highly active and immersed in a physically demanding sport. But the episodes continued \u2014 unpredictable and intense. One day, while playing pickleball at home, his heart rate spiked to nearly 320 beats per minute, a level that can be dangerous if sustained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou could see my heart beating through my chest,\u201d Bryce said. \u201cIt was scary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bryce initially met with John S Harris, M.D., a cardiologist with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute<\/a>. Dr. Harris moved quickly to address Bryce\u2019s heart issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recordings of Bryce\u2019s heart were sent to Kevin M. Thomas, M.D., electrophysiologist with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute<\/a>. After further monitoring, Dr. Thomas quickly recognized the issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBryce had a rhythm called supraventricular tachycardia, or SVT,\u201d Dr. Thomas said. \u201cIt\u2019s caused by a short circuit in the heart\u2019s electrical system that makes the heart suddenly race very fast, without warning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While SVT is not usually life\u2011threatening, the symptoms can be severe \u2014 dizziness, shortness of breath, and even near-fainting. For a professional race car driver traveling at high speeds, those symptoms can be especially dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn a race car, you\u2019re already dealing with adrenaline and stress,\u201d Dr. Thomas said. \u201cIf your heart suddenly jumps to 200 beats per minute for the wrong reason, that can cause tunnel vision or lightheadedness. That\u2019s not something you want happening on the track.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because Bryce is young, active, and competing at a high level, medication was not the ideal solution. Instead, Dr. Thomas recommended a minimally invasive procedure called a cardiac ablation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the procedure, doctors guide thin catheters through veins in the leg into the heart, recreate the abnormal rhythm, locate the faulty electrical pathway and eliminate it using targeted energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt sounds intense,\u201d Bryce said, \u201cbut it was honestly incredible how fast it went.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost immediately, Bryce noticed a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBefore, I could always feel my heart beating,\u201d he said. \u201cI thought that was normal. After the procedure, it was quiet. I couldn\u2019t feel it at all \u2014 and that was the best feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ablation took place in August 2025, and Bryce was cleared to return to racing shortly afterward. The results were almost immediate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe first race back, I won,\u201d Bryce said. \u201cThe next one, I won again. And then I finished second. Ever since the procedure, I\u2019ve felt more focused, more calm, and like I have more stamina behind the wheel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Racing is physically demanding \u2014 cockpit temperatures can reach 150 degrees, and drivers must remain mentally sharp for hours at a time. Bryce believes his heart no longer working overtime has allowed him to think more clearly and conserve energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m smoother now,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t get as hot. I don\u2019t get fatigued as fast. It\u2019s just been a whole different version of me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Dr. Thomas, that outcome is exactly what doctors hope for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur goal is to eliminate the arrhythmia so patients can return to their lives without fear,\u201d he said. \u201cIn Bryce\u2019s case, we were able to successfully treat it, and he\u2019s had no recurrences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now 20 years old, Bryce is balancing racing at some of NASCAR\u2019s most iconic tracks \u2014 including Daytona International Speedway in Florida \u2014 with a demanding academic schedule. He\u2019s studying motorsports engineering, flying between Kentucky and North Carolina while taking advanced math and engineering courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis first year is about getting seat time and getting my name out there,\u201d he said. \u201cAfter that, hopefully the calls start coming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back, Bryce hopes his story encourages others to speak up when something doesn\u2019t feel right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you feel something weird with your heart, say something,\u201d he said. \u201cI thought it was normal. It wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018It might be something we can fix\u2019<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf something feels new, different, or concerning, talk to a doctor,\u201d Dr. Thomas said. \u201cIt might be nothing \u2014 but it might be something we can fix.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Bryce, that decision didn\u2019t just protect his health \u2014 it may have helped accelerate his racing career. With a steady heart and clear focus, he\u2019s back on the track, chasing the next checkered flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Norton Heart & Vascular Institute is at the forefront of cardiovascular research. Our specialists have deep experience treating all cardiovascular conditions, from congestive heart failure to vascular disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn the signs, reduce your risk and find innovative cardiology care, visit NortonHeartCare.com<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For Bryce Applegate, racing has always been about precision, focus, and control. 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