If he’d been coiled up and defensive, no way .... but his tail was 2-1/2 to 3 feet away from his head which was up like a little periscope so I got brave and did it. Instant reaction .... that fella’ could some kinda move ... guess that’s why they call them ‘racers’.
Coulda been a racer. I’m used to regular black (rat) snakes here, so I was struck by the pencil-thinness of my one black racer... coiled as it was between the basement door and the car as I was headed out to work.
I’m glad yours wasn’t coiled for a strike because (hah hah) as I found out researching later, they are known to make a feint strike upon discovery, and mine was true to type. I tell you, I am not used to that behavior from a good ole black snake! In truth it really was only a half-hearted feint that didn’t come much beyond the center of its coiled mass. Just kinda freaky.
He hung out a little longer as if to make his point while I pounded the ground near him with a tool hamdle - I appreciate the vermin control and prefer a nonvenomous snake seize the niche before a poisonous one slithers into place. Once he turned tail and fled, the sucker was fast!
Anyways, I’m glad yours was allowed safe passage and no baby bluebirds to eat. Research said they eat tiny mammals & even bugs.