4wd mod electrics dont have the fastest lap times...at least not on the track that i race at. The track records for: 1/8th scale buggy is 53.24seconds
4wd mod electric is 58.42 seconds
1/10 scale gas truck is 57.88 seconds
That info is from the track that I race at. 400+ guys race there and thats the fastest laps recorded at all the events. mind you that we have a guy that is insane with a 8th scale buggy and blows every one away with how fast he is.(he scares the crowd because it looks like ist out of control and going straight to the bleachers[X(])
But I guess it all depends on what track you race at.
Ok back to the question...I think both are equal. the only down side is having to buy expensive motors and batteries and esc's and stuff for electric for it to just keep up with a nitro out of the box(excluding that crappy nitro from the makers of the "brain" battery chargers that only goes 23mph out of the box[:'(])
But with notro you have more broken parts(at least me anyways[]) and the cost of fuel is killer if you run your nitro as much as i do(about a gallon every two weeks)and the fact that i live in Canada raises the prices...but whatever floats your boat