Published: April 27, 2026
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
For Bryce Applegate, racing has always been about precision, focus, and control. From the time he first climbed into a go‑kart 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’s developmental pipeline.
But a few years ago, something began happening off the track that Bryce couldn’t explain.
“I 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,” Bryce said. “I’d get short of breath, lightheaded, and feel like I was going to pass out.”
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 — 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.
“You could see my heart beating through my chest,” Bryce said. “It was scary.”
Bryce initially met with John S Harris, M.D., a cardiologist with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. Dr. Harris moved quickly to address Bryce’s heart issue.
Recordings of Bryce’s heart were sent to Kevin M. Thomas, M.D., electrophysiologist with Norton Heart & Vascular Institute. After further monitoring, Dr. Thomas quickly recognized the issues.
“Bryce had a rhythm called supraventricular tachycardia, or SVT,” Dr. Thomas said. “It’s caused by a short circuit in the heart’s electrical system that makes the heart suddenly race very fast, without warning.”
While SVT is not usually life‑threatening, the symptoms can be severe — dizziness, shortness of breath, and even near-fainting. For a professional race car driver traveling at high speeds, those symptoms can be especially dangerous.
“In a race car, you’re already dealing with adrenaline and stress,” Dr. Thomas said. “If your heart suddenly jumps to 200 beats per minute for the wrong reason, that can cause tunnel vision or lightheadedness. That’s not something you want happening on the track.”
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.
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.
“It sounds intense,” Bryce said, “but it was honestly incredible how fast it went.”
Almost immediately, Bryce noticed a difference.
“Before, I could always feel my heart beating,” he said. “I thought that was normal. After the procedure, it was quiet. I couldn’t feel it at all — and that was the best feeling.”
The ablation took place in August 2025, and Bryce was cleared to return to racing shortly afterward. The results were almost immediate.
“The first race back, I won,” Bryce said. “The next one, I won again. And then I finished second. Ever since the procedure, I’ve felt more focused, more calm, and like I have more stamina behind the wheel.”
Racing is physically demanding — 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.
“I’m smoother now,” he said. “I don’t get as hot. I don’t get fatigued as fast. It’s just been a whole different version of me.”
According to Dr. Thomas, that outcome is exactly what doctors hope for.
“Our goal is to eliminate the arrhythmia so patients can return to their lives without fear,” he said. “In Bryce’s case, we were able to successfully treat it, and he’s had no recurrences.”
Now 20 years old, Bryce is balancing racing at some of NASCAR’s most iconic tracks — including Daytona International Speedway in Florida — with a demanding academic schedule. He’s studying motorsports engineering, flying between Kentucky and North Carolina while taking advanced math and engineering courses.
“This first year is about getting seat time and getting my name out there,” he said. “After that, hopefully the calls start coming.”
Looking back, Bryce hopes his story encourages others to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.
“If you feel something weird with your heart, say something,” he said. “I thought it was normal. It wasn’t.”
“If something feels new, different, or concerning, talk to a doctor,” Dr. Thomas said. “It might be nothing — but it might be something we can fix.”
For Bryce, that decision didn’t just protect his health — it may have helped accelerate his racing career. With a steady heart and clear focus, he’s back on the track, chasing the next checkered flag.
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.
To learn the signs, reduce your risk and find innovative cardiology care, visit NortonHeartCare.com.