If those guys were put in cup cars with little or no cup experience I would put it more on the car owner.
I remember Steve Kinser running a few races early one season for Kenny Bernstein, it did not go well and it did not last long. It was terrible, I remember watching him run the race at Rockingham he was totally out of his element and there was no mercy.
I mean no disrespect too him it just looked like a disservice to him and his legacy (but he did get a lot of Quaker State WoO sponsorship).
Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart both were open wheel drivers that deserve all of the cup respect they have earned. But they were given a years worth of racing in what is now the Xfinity series to prepare.