In the nitro classes the driveline set up is the only way to go. You are easily a tenth off the pace if you are not running a driveline car.
In electric it is 50/50 there are alot of driveline cars out there that are fast. The gear ratio's are what they are. We have to take what is available from 1/8th scale on road or off road cars to build the gear sets. Granted they are heavily modified after we get them. Idealy a 5.0 or 50/10 would be perfect. Untill one of the big box companies makes a spiral gear set in that size we will work with what is available.