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HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Once a sport of the common man, NASCAR has become an elitist society where the gulf between upper and middle-class grows. The divide is symbolized by a fence -- the fence that surrounds Victory Lane at most tracks and one that only the upper crust passes through.

Today's Sprint Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway ends a season that could see the fewest different winners since 1999.

Many blame the car, which is in its first full season, but that's only part of the issue. Most teams that have won this season are the sport's richest. They could afford to do whatever testing they needed to succeed and hire whoever could figure out this car, a rolling Rubik's Cube where one change creates several more.

"This car was supposed to create more parity,'' former champion Kurt Busch said. "What it has done is it has separated a select few and allowed them to win all the races.''

Points leader Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch have combined to win 23 of the 35 races this season, and they come from the sport's biggest teams: Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing.

The last time three drivers dominated the sport in such a way was 1998 when Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin and Dale Jarrett won 23 of 33 races.

Gordon is among the drivers who have not won this season -- a list that includes Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick and Martin. Should Gordon fail to win today, it will mark his first winless season since his rookie year in 1993.

"I have no problem coming out of this season without a win if I think it can contribute to us going and winning five or more races next year and being a threat for the championship,'' said Gordon, who has struggled with the car's handling, particularly at the bigger tracks.

Jarrett can relate. He admits a factor in deciding to retire this year was the car and "how difficult it is to get the feel.''

Jarrett laments how the car reduces the chances of winning for most drivers.

"They said they wanted to put this in the hands of the drivers &ellipses; and I think you have to be careful what you're wishing for,'' said the ABC/ESPN analyst. "You give Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson &ellipses; cars that are more than difficult to drive, their talent is going to override that and they're going to separate themselves.''

Fewer drivers winning means fewer surprises.

"The biggest upset we've had is a former champion winning a race at Loudon,'' Jarrett said, noting Kurt Busch's rain-shortened victory and the absence of any first-time winners this year. "Other than that, there have been no other winners then in these major groups.''

NASCAR Chairman Brian France reiterated this week that the cars are safer, and they are. But he also says that the competition is improving. He sees no need to worry about a trio dominating the sport.

"We've watched the competition get better week after week as the teams have figured out this car,'' France said.

Yet, in three of the last four races, the winner led at least 63 percent of the race. So, how to close the gap?

NASCAR officials have said they aren't planning rule changes to the car. Rule changes cost money and often the biggest, richest teams can find an advantage the quickest. Keeping the rules the same gives the smaller teams, at least in theory, more time to understand and refine the car. That could help them close the gap on the larger teams.

Another key component is testing. NASCAR announced this week that it will ban testing at tracks that host either a Cup, Nationwide, truck or Camping World East and West race. The move was done to help teams save money. Questions exist if that will happen and if the ban can close the competition.

For all the issues associated with the car, not everyone is convinced it's that evil. Harvick, winless since the 2007 Daytona 500, says the car helps make the sport "unpredictable. "I know a lot of people want to read 'fewest winners since '99" or whatever the case may be,'' he said. "It really doesn't matter, if you go back, I am sure there are years that have been just like this."

Just none since 1999.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com