Thomas Meseraull Bio
Thomas Michael “T-Mez” Meseraull (born 7 May 1981) is an American professional auto racing driver who competes full time on the USAC National Midget Series. A 19-time USAC National Series winner, he is widely recognized as one of the most consistent open-wheel dirt racers in the United States. Meseraull built his reputation in West Coast short tracks before becoming a fixture of the national USAC tour.
Known throughout the pits and grandstands by his nickname “T-Mez,” he has carved out a career defined by late-model adaptability, dirt expertise, and a willingness to race wherever the schedule calls. His blend of veteran patience and outright speed has kept him in demand among top midget teams, most recently with RMS Racing.
Early Life and Background
Meseraull was born in San Jose, California, and grew up surrounded by the rich short-track culture of the West Coast. Although he would later settle in Indiana, the heart of American dirt racing, his earliest racing influences were shaped in California, where midget cars and sprint cars have long been a grassroots staple. The Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA) Midget division became one of the defining proving grounds for his early career, and the connections he made there would echo throughout his professional life.
From the start, Meseraull was drawn to the demands of open-wheel racing, where car control and mechanical sympathy matter as much as raw aggression. Those formative years on California ovals and bullrings gave him a foundation that would later translate to the national stage, helping him transition smoothly between pavement and dirt disciplines and across a wide range of track shapes.
Path to USAC
Meseraull’s climb to national prominence began in regional competition, where he honed his skills against seasoned West Coast veterans. His breakthrough came in 2004, when he captured the Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA) Midget Championship, signaling that he was ready to chase bigger opportunities. That title established him as a serious contender within the USAC ecosystem and opened doors to the organization’s national touring series.
Patience marked his progression, as he balanced regional racing with selective national starts for years before earning a full-time seat. His work ethic and willingness to race almost any weekend paid off, and by the late 2010s, Meseraull had positioned himself as a regular contender in national events. The relationship with RMS Racing, formed in 2018, gave him a stable, competitive platform to chase USAC glory on a consistent basis.
Thomas Meseraull Career
Early Career (2004–2019)
Meseraull’s professional resume took shape in the early 2000s, anchored by his 2004 BCRA Midget Championship. That title remains a cornerstone of his regional legacy and helped define the San Jose native as a midget racer first and foremost. Throughout the following decade and a half, he split his time between California-based events and national USAC programs, building a reputation as a dependable, fast, and durable competitor.
Although national wins eluded him during this stretch, Meseraull’s regional success kept him in the conversation whenever USAC needed a strong midget pilot. He balanced family life in Indiana with a relentless travel schedule, and his work in the shop as much as on the track earned respect from crew chiefs and rivals alike.
USAC National Midget Breakthrough (2020–2021)
Meseraull’s first USAC National Series feature victory came in 2020 in the Western States Midget division at Bakersfield Speedway in Bakersfield, California, a fitting breakthrough on his home West Coast circuit. That same year, he captured the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget Series Harvest Cup at Tri-State Speedway, showcasing his ability to win on a variety of track surfaces.
He returned to Tri-State Speedway in 2021 and won the Harvest Cup again, becoming the first two-time USAC midget winner at the speedway since 1969. The back-to-back Harvest Cup triumphs confirmed that his first national win was no fluke, and they cemented his status as a regular threat in USAC’s marquee midget events.
RMS Racing Era (2018–2023)
Meseraull joined RMS Racing in 2018, beginning a five-year partnership that would define the most successful stretch of his career. Working closely with the team, he became a regular presence in USAC National Midget Series feature events and accumulated wins that pushed his career total to 19 USAC National Series victories. The relationship produced consistent top finishes and gave him a competitive car at every type of dirt track on the schedule.
On October 30, 2023, RMS Racing announced that the team was parting ways with Meseraull, ending the long-running driver-and-team relationship. Despite the split, the era elevated both his profile and the team’s reputation, and it produced a string of results that still anchor his resume today.
Driving Style and Strengths
Meseraull is best known for his smooth, calculated approach on slick dirt tracks, where tire conservation and line selection often decide the outcome. He excels at intermediate and small ovals, and his patience in traffic allows him to capitalize on late-race opportunities. Long stints with RMS Racing also gave him a deep comfort level with his crew, sharpening his in-car communication and strategy.
Notable Races and Milestones
His signature moments include his first USAC feature win at Bakersfield Speedway in 2020 and his consecutive Harvest Cup victories at Tri-State Speedway in 2020 and 2021. In 2023, he was featured alongside NASCAR Cup Series star Kyle Larson in the FOX Sports documentary “Dirt: The Last Great American Sport,” an appearance that highlighted his standing within the broader dirt racing community.
Thomas Meseraull Career Wins
Meseraull has accumulated 19 USAC National Series wins across his career, a tally that places him among the most accomplished active midget drivers in the country. His victories span the Western States Midget division and the national NOS Energy Drink Midget Series, reflecting his ability to win on both regional and national stages.
USAC National Midget Highlights
His first national-series victory came in 2020 at Bakersfield Speedway, and he wasted no time adding to that breakthrough with the Harvest Cup win at Tri-State Speedway later the same year. The 2021 Harvest Cup defense made him the first repeat USAC midget winner at Tri-State Speedway since 1969, a historic accomplishment that underscores his consistency at the Indiana oval.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his national success, Meseraull captured the 2004 Bay Cities Racing Association (BCRA) Midget Championship, the early-career title that announced him as a driver to watch. Regional wins across California and the Midwest have supplemented his national resume and helped maintain the form that has made him a USAC feature winner for more than two decades.
Thomas Meseraull Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Meseraull was born and raised in San Jose, California, and later established his home in Indiana, the heart of American dirt racing. His relocation placed him at the center of USAC’s strongest weekly fields and within driving distance of the country’s most prestigious midget venues.
Personal Life
Meseraull lives in Indiana, where he continues to be a fixture of the local racing community. He is widely known by the nickname “T-Mez,” a moniker that reflects both his personality and his long-standing presence in the pits and on the track.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget Series season, Meseraull remains one of the most experienced pilots on the tour, with 19 career USAC National Series wins already in hand. Free from his long RMS Racing partnership following the 2023 split, he has had the opportunity to evaluate his options and align with a new team program that fits his driving style and schedule. His familiarity with the national circuit and his history of winning at marquee events make him a credible threat to add to his career total.
His strongest venues remain small and intermediate dirt ovals, particularly Tri-State Speedway, where his two Harvest Cup wins give him a proven track record. With the USAC midget schedule once again crisscrossing the Midwest, Meseraull’s veteran experience and mechanical know-how should keep him in contention for feature wins and a strong run in season-long standings.