On the other hand, can you expect tracks to run at a loss, especially if the owners are of a businessman-turned-racetrack owner variety?

I agree Mobil1fan.
If I was putting up the money to buy a track I would want to make as much money as I could, but I would also work my hardest to maintain a level of respect for my Fans and
my Racers.
Track Owners in this business know that without the Racers there are no Fans, and without the Fans there is no Race Track.
Not to say buying the Track was a bad idea under these conditions, unless the Track was situated in aera that was going to be needing a new shopping mall or something !! 

You get it, I get it, but businessmen and banks don't. It's not often that the needs and demands of racers and tracks line up at the same time.

That's it... Banks should own Race Tracks !!

lol, it'd be a cycle of the same money then, wouldn't it?