Since 2001, Lightning Racer has consistently been voted one of the world's 25 best wooden roller coasters at the Golden Ticket Awards, which are presented annually by Amusement Today magazine.

[1] The next month, Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company announced that Hersheypark would be adding its eighth coaster, Lightning Racer.

[3][4] After construction had started, GCI's engineers encountered some obstacles that had not been shown on the official topographic maps that Hersheypark had given them, including a fence and a Turkey Hill shop.

[1] Through an agreement with Hersheypark, ice cream brand Green's (a subsidiary of Crowley Foods) promoted the ride by introducing an ice-cream flavor called Raspberry Blueberry Scream.

[8] The ride's station was designed by Ralph E. Kaylor of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and is made of heavy timber and wood frame.

In addition to providing a shaded queue area for guests, the station contains a shop where on-ride photos from the coaster are sold.

[4] Steve Hendrix of The Washington Post wrote that Lightning Racer "looks like something left behind by a flood, but the twin coasters race each other through the tangle with thrilling zippiness".

"[10] Lightning Racer is consistently voted among the top 25 wooden roller coasters by Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards.