Grit, determination, and a lucky charm for good measure. Barrel racer Taci Bettis had a tough start to her NFR week, but she's turning it around night-by-night in Las Vegas. 

Bettis has now placed in the last four rounds, including winning round eight — earning her first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo go-round buckle. Watch what she calls "the smoothest run" of her week in the NFR highlight video here:

Riding her horse Bogie Is A Smash, aka "Smash," she's also managed to earn $62,884.61 in the last four rounds.

Now, she jokes that her husband was trying to be helpful, but there was someone else helping her down the alley the last few nights that may have played a part in her success recently. Find out what — or rather who — was Bettis' lucky charm the past four nights.