Robert Pronger (January 22, 1922 – June 17, 1971) was an American stock car owner, driver and Chicago Outfit associate from Blue Island, Illinois.
Born and raised in Blue Island, Illinois, Pronger would first become exposed to automobile racing through the city's local short track at the time, Raceway Park, in 1948.
[2][3] His success on the local scene allowed him the opportunity to race on the national level, and would make his first NASCAR Cup Series appearance in the 1951 Southern 500.
[8] He would also become involved in automobile chop shop schemes with the Chicago Outfit[9] in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana regions, which would net Pronger earnings of $125,000 a year.
[9] This came after Pronger had reported to police that someone had attempted to murder him in his apartment the previous month, and that shots had been fired at him on his way to Raceway Park on two separate occasions.